Study of matter, its properties, and the changes it undergoes.
Matter can change in many ways. These changes are divided into two main types: physical and chemical.
A physical change alters how something looks or feels but doesn't change what it is. Examples include:
After a physical change, the substance stays the same at the molecular level.
A chemical change creates something new. The original substance becomes a different material with new properties. Signs of chemical change include:
Baking a cake, rusting iron, and burning wood are all chemical changes.
Understanding these changes helps us cook, clean, create new materials, and even understand how our bodies work!
Melting butter is a physical change; frying an egg is a chemical change.
Rust forming on a bike is a chemical change; cutting vegetables is a physical change.
Physical changes affect appearance but not identity, while chemical changes create something new.