PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL CHANGES

SLOW AND FAST CHANGES

The changes that take longer time to complete are called slow changes .

Example – Rusting of iron , Change of seasons , etc .

The changes that take place in a very short interval of time are called fast changes .

Example – Blinking of eyes , Cutting of an apple , etc.

NATURAL AND MAN –MADE CHANGES

Some changes that take place in nature by themselves are called natural changes .

Example – Change of day and night , Growing of a tree , etc .

Any change that occurs due to the efforts of human beings is called a man – made
change .

Example - Cooking of food , Jewellery from gold , etc .

PERIODIC AND NON – PERIODIC CHANGES

Changes that are repeated at regular intervals of time are called periodic changes .

Example – Change of day and night , Change of seasons , etc .

Changes that are not repeated at regular intervals of time are called non periodic changes.

Example – Earthquakes , Landslides , etc .

REVERSIBLE AND IRREVERSIBLE CHANGES

When a change in a substance can be reversed by changing the conditions , it is said

to be a reversible change .
Example –

Water freezing into ice on cooling and ice melting into water at room temperature .

If a substance cannot be brought back to its original state after a change , it is said to be an
irreversible change .

Example - Burning of a piece of paper , Cooking of food , etc .

PHYSICAL CHANGE

A physical change is a change in which no new substance is formed and the chemical
composition of the original substance remains the same , even though some of its
physical properties lie colour , state , shape , size ,etc. may change .

Characteristics of a physical change :

No new substance is formed .

The change is temporary and reversible , i.e. the substance returns to its
original state on changing the conditions .

There is no change in mass during a physical change .

There is usually no gain or loss of energy as a result of physical change .

There is no change in the chemical composition of the original substance .

The change is only in the state , size , shape , colour , texture , or the smell
of some or all of the substances that undergo physical change .

Example of physical change -

Melting of wax , Breaking of glass , Magnetisation of iron , Drying of wet clothes , etc .

CHEMICAL CHANGE

A chemical change is a permanent change in which new substances are formed whose
chemical composition and physical and chemical properties are different from those of
the original substance .
Characteristics of a chemical change :

New substances are formed .

The composition of the original substance changes completely .

The change is permanent and irreversible .

There is a change in the mass of the original substance .

There is an exchange of energy during a chemical change which means that

energy in the form of heat and light may be released or absorbed .

Example - The cooking of rice , The formation of curd from milk , The burning of fuel ,
The digestion of food , etc .

The burning of candle is an example in which both physical and chemical changes
take place because melting of wax is a physical change and burning is a chemical
change as new substances like carbon dioxide and water vapour are produced .

Differences between PHYSICAL and CHEMICAL CHANGES :

PHYSICAL CHANGE CHEMICAL CHANGE

No new substance is formed and the chemical New substance is formed with completely
composition of a substance remains the same . different chemical composition and properties .

The change can be reversible . The change is permanent .

No change in the mass of the substance . There is a change in the mass of the substance .

Heat or light energy may or may not be released . Heat and light energy is released and absorbed .

NOTE –

The original substances taking part in the reaction are called REACTANTS .

The new substances so formed are called PRODUCTS .