Physical vs Chemical Changes
Science · Matter & Materials · conceptual
Distinguish between physical changes (reversible, no new substances formed) and chemical changes (new substances formed, often irreversible), using conservation of mass to understand both types
What mastery looks like
- Classifies given changes as physical or chemical with justification
- Explains what conservation of mass means and why mass is conserved in chemical reactions
- Names observable signs that a chemical reaction has occurred (colour change, gas produced, temperature change, precipitate)
- Explains why dissolving is a physical change but burning is a chemical change
Check your understanding
If Physical vs Chemical Changes dissolved sugar in tea versus burnt toast in the toaster, could they explain which is a physical change and which is a chemical change — and what test would show that mass is conserved in both cases?
Prerequisites
Required first
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