EVIDENCE OF PHYSICAL CHANGES
WS #1
Name
Directions: During your reading HIGHLIGHT your answers before writing them down.
A physical change is a change that affects one or more
physical properties of a substance. Physical changes occur
when a substance changes from one form to another BUT
the chemical identity of the substance remains the same.
1. In a physical change the new substance has the
(the same, different) properties
as the original substance.
Changing the appearance, shape, or size of a substance is a physical change. For example, cutting hair is a physical
change. The appearance and shape of the hair has changed, but the substance is still the same - it’s still hair. Other
examples include breaking a pencil, crushing an aluminum can, chopping wood, and folding a piece of paper.
Changing the
Size
Changing the
Shape
Cutting
Tearing
Shredding
Shrinking
Grinding
Enlarging
Stretching
Bending
Molding
Folding
Denting
crushing
a can
folding
paper
chopping
wood
2. There are many ways to change the appearance of a substance. Write an example of how each word below
can physically change a substance. The first one has been done for you.
Cutting:
cutting your hair
Enlarging:
Tearing:
Shrinking:
Molding:
3. Honey that is heated becomes less
viscous and undergoes a physical
change. Explain what is happening
to the molecules when honey is heated.
A viscous liquid becoming
less viscous due to being
heated is an example of
a physical change. When
you heat honey it flows
much quicker, but it is
still honey. The honey
becomes less viscous
because the molecules have
moved further apart allowing for them to slide
more easily over each other.
nonheated
honey
heated
honey
WS #1
When substances form
mixtures, the identities of
each substance is not
changed. This allows us to
easily separate the
components of a mixture.
4. Explain why mixing lettuce, tomatoes,
cucumbers and olives together is
considered to only be a physical change.
salad mixture
5. Why is dissolving sugar in water a physical change?
Dissolving is another example of a physical change.
Mixing sugar in water simply produces sugar in
water (a homogenous mixture). The identity of
the sugar and the water have not changed.
sugar
6. Name another substance that can dissolve in water
and still be considered a physical change.
water
10/29/14, 5:40 AM
When substances change phases (states), they
undergo a physical change. Changing the state of the
substance does not change the chemical makeup of
the substance. H20 is still H20 -- whether it is a
liquid or a solid or a gas. The molecules are just
moving closer together or further apart.
for Kids
7. In each situation below, the substance is
undergoing a physical change. Explain why.
chocolate
melting
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ty. That moisture is called condensation.
water
boiling
condensation
(liquid -> gas)
condensation
(liquid -> gas)
snow melting
(liquid -> gas)