Questions: Classify each of the changes as a physical change or a chemical change.
- heating hair
- Evaporation of mercury (Hg)
- carving plastic
- condensation of water vapors
- turning paper
- slicing an apple
- tearing aluminum foil
Transcript text: Classify each of the changes as a physical change or a chemical change.
- heating hair
- Evaporation of mercury (Hg)
- carving plastic
- condensation of water vapors
- turning paper
- slicing an apple
- tearing aluminum foil
Solution
Solution Steps
Step 1: Understanding Physical and Chemical Changes
A physical change involves a change in the physical properties of a substance without altering its chemical composition. Examples include changes in state, shape, or size. A chemical change, on the other hand, results in the formation of one or more new substances with different chemical properties.
Step 2: Classifying Each Change
Bleaching hair: This is a chemical change because it involves a chemical reaction that alters the color of the hair by breaking down the melanin pigment.
Evaporation of mercury (Hg): This is a physical change because it involves a change of state from liquid to gas without altering the chemical composition of mercury.
Carving plastic: This is a physical change because it involves changing the shape of the plastic without altering its chemical structure.
Condensation of water vapors: This is a physical change because it involves a change of state from gas to liquid without altering the chemical composition of water.
Turning paper: This is a physical change because it involves changing the orientation or position of the paper without altering its chemical structure.
Slicing an apple: This is a physical change because it involves changing the shape of the apple without altering its chemical composition.
Tearing aluminum foil: This is a physical change because it involves changing the shape of the foil without altering its chemical composition.