CHEMICAL CHANGES vs.

PHYSICAL CHANGES

What are the differences?

Physical change Chemical change Note

Substances No new substances are New substances (known When a chemical

reaction occurs, the
formed as products) are formed atoms rearrange
when the original themselves to form new
chemicals (known as chemicals.
reactants) react (no atoms are created or
destroyed)

Easy to It is usually easy to It is usually difficult to

reverse? reverse the change reverse the change
(reversible) (irreversible)

Energy Usually, there is no Energy is always given More exothermic than

endothermic reactions
change? significant energy out (exothermic) or
change taken in (endothermic)
resulting in a
temperature change

Colour Usually there is no This can result in a

change? colour change colour change due to the
formation of new
products

Change of The substance usually New products can have Physical changes:
melting, freezing,
state? changes state a different state to the boiling, condensing
reactants but not always and dissolving

Mass in chemical reactions?

Mass is always conserved (never lost or gained) in chemical reactions. Law of
conversation of mass:
- the total mass of products at the end of the reaction is equal to the total mass
of the reactants at the beginning.
- This is because no atoms are created or destroyed during chemical reactions.
What is the most important thing that show us that a chemical reaction has taken
place? New substances have been formed.
ENDOTHERMIC vs EXOTHERMIC

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CHEMICAL CHANGES vs. PHYSICAL CHANGES