Change

s in
Matter

Changes in Matter

Almost everything in the universe changes. The

universe itself is constantly undergoing changes.
Changes in matter are common and familiar
occurrences. Many occur spontaneously and naturally;
others are man-made. Man-made changes are meant
to benefit man and his environment. However, some
changes produce harmful side-effects, such as
pollution, depletion of resources, mutation, disturbance
of the balance in nature, and many other ill-effects. An
understanding of these changes will allow us to make
better choices as to what changes in matter will make
our world a better place to live in.

Solid: tightly packed molecules

Liquid: loosely packed molecules
Gas: very loosely packed molecules

Changes in Matter
Types of Changes
Physical Change. A physical change is a change in
the physical properties of matter that does not involve
a change in its composition. In other words, no new
substance is formed.
e.g. freezing of water
Chemical Change. A chemical change is a change
in the nature or composition of matter. When a
chemical change occurs, a new substance is formed.
e.g. rusting of iron

Identifying Physical Change

Change in the state of matter. Phase change refers to a
change in the state of matter. Under normal conditions of
temperature and pressure, matter is either solid or liquid or gas. By
changing either or both of these conditions, the state of matter can
be altered.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

Melting: change from solid to liquid.

Freezing: change from liquid to solid.
Evaporation or vaporization: change from liquid to gas;
Condensation: change from liquid to solid, or gas to liquid.
Sublimation: change from solid directly to gas without passing
through the liquid.

NB Phase change is caused by a material's gain or loss of heat. A

material that gains heat undergoes an endothermic phase change.
A material that losses heat undergoes an exothermic phase
change.

Identifying Physical Change

Change in the state of matter. Phase change refers to a
change in the state of matter. Under normal conditions of
temperature and pressure, matter is either solid or liquid or gas. By
changing either or both of these conditions, the state of matter can
be altered.

Melting: change from solid to liquid.

Freezing: change from liquid to

solid.

Evaporation or vaporization: change from

liquid to gas;

Condensation: change from liquid to solid, or

gas to liquid.

Sublimation: change from solid directly to gas

without passing
through the liquid.

Phase change is caused by a material's gain or loss

of heat. A material that gains heat undergoes an
endothermic phase change. A material that losses
heat undergoes an exothermic phase change.

Change in shape or subdivision

Molding, pulverizing, breaking, tearing, chopping,
dissolving, emulsifying, or coagulating matter does not
affect its chemical composition. These changes are,
therefore, physical.

Change in size and/or quantity

Change in mass, weight, or volume of matter does
not affect its chemical composition.
a. In most cases a change in mass is accompanied by
a corresponding change in weight and volume.
b. Sometimes, however, matter may change its
volume without any corresponding change in mass
or weight, as in the case of the thermal expansion
and contraction of matter.
c. Other times, the weight of matter changes without
any corresponding change in mass, as in the case of
weights of a body on Earth at different altitudes; or in
cases where the same mass is weighed on different
planets, or when immersed in a fluid.

Change in temperature.
Matter is made up of particles that are always
moving and colliding against each other. When matter
is heated, these particles are made to move more
rapidly. As a result of this increase in motion, its
temperature increases.
a. Temperature is a measure of a bodys hotness or
coldness. Our skin is sensitive to changes in the bodys
temperature.
b. A thermometer is an instrument that measures
temperature in degrees Celsius or degrees Fahrenheit.
These are the scales of a thermometer.

Evaluation

Multiple Choice Test. Choose the correct answer.

1. Color, odor and taste are physical properties of matter. When

matter changes its physical properties, the change
a. is definitely a physical change.
b. can either be physical or chemical, depending on whether
or not a
new substance is formed.
c. is definitely a chemical change.
d. is both physical and chemical.
2. When a candle burns, it becomes shorter because part of it
melts and part
becomes carbon dioxide and water. The melting
of the candle wax is considered a physical change because
a. it is a change in physical properties.
b. there is a new substance formed as a product of the
change.
c. there is no change in the chemical composition of the wax.
d. only the physical state of the candle is changed.

3. Which of the following clues indicate that the burning of the

candle is a
chemical change?
A. New substances are formed.
B. Radiant energy is released as the candle burns.
C. The materials undergo a change in state.
D. The burning candle produces a peculiar smell.
A and B
b) A and C
c) B and D d) A, B and D
4. When iron rusts, it loses its luster, malleability, and electrical
conductivity. Rusting of iron is therefore a
a. physical change because the material changes its physical
properties.
b. physical change because there is no new substance
produced.
c. chemical change because the said changes are changes in
chemical
properties.
d. chemical change because the said changes indicate that a
new
substance is formed.

5. When dry ice is placed in water, it produces a lot of carbon dioxide

bubbles, a phenomenon that is called effervescence. This particular
change is
a. definitely a physical change.
b. definitely a chemical change.
c. either a physical or chemical change.
d. both a physical and chemical change.

Assignment

1. In what way is physical change different from chemical change?

2. How do you identify physical changes?