Physical and Chemical changes in matter
In this page we are going to discuss about physical and Chemical changes in
matter concept . Matter undergoes certain changes as a result of the application of energy. Water
from saltpans on the seacoast dry up, leaving behind salt; water from the sea evaporates to from
water vapour, which convert into clouds and then condense to form rain. Glaciers melt in summer
and rivers freeze in winter. A candle upon burning gives light, heat, water vapour and carbon
dioxide. Hydrogen burns in air to form the water molecule H2O.
The different changes that matter undergoes, may be broadly classified
into 'physical' and 'chemical' changes.
Physical changes
When the shape, size, appearance or state, of a substance is altered, but its chemical composition
remains same a physical change of matter takes place. No new substance is formed. It is usually a
change, which is reversible, that is, by reversing the process, the original substance can be obtained.
By using a piece of gold, a goldsmith can make a gold chain and can later alter it to make a gold
bracelet, ring or a pair of earings. All of them consist of the same substance, namely gold. This is an
example of a physical change. A more common everyday example is that of water, which can be
converted into solid ice, liquid water, and gaseous water vapour. It can be reconverted to its previous
state by various methods. Yet, in all the three forms, the chemical composition of water is not
altered.
No new substance with new chemical properties is formed. In all these, water consists of two atoms
of hydrogen and one atom of oxygen.
Thus, a Physical change is a change in which the chemical composition of the substance is not
affected, i.e., no new substance is formed.
Examples of Physical Changes
(a) Dissolving of sugar in water
When crystalline sugar is dissolved in water, it seems to disappear completely, and not even a very
powerful microscope can show us the molecules of sugar in water. The solution obtained is
uniformly sweet. By evaporating the water the sugar can be recovered in a crystalline form.
(b) Magnetising an iron rod
An iron rod can be converted into a magnet by passing an electric current through an insulated coil
wound around it. When the current flows, the iron bar gets magnetised. One end becomes North Pole
and the other the South Pole. If the direction of the current is reversed, the North Pole changes to
South Pole and the South Pole changes to North Pole.
(c) Glowing of an electric bulb
When an electric current is passed through the filament of a bulb, the filament starts glowing and the
glow stops as soon as the current is cut off. The chemical composition of the filament does not alter
in either state.
Chemical Change
A change in which the composition of a substance is altered is called as chemical change of matter.
As a result, the original properties get changed and one or more new substances are formed.
Iron is greyish white metal and conducts electricity. It is attracted by a magnet, and reacts with
dilute acids to yield hydrogen.
Sulphur is a non-metal, and is yellow in colour. It dissolves in carbon disulphide. When powdered
iron and sulphur are heated together, a completely new substance, iron sulphide is formed. The
properties of iron sulphide are entirely different from those of iron and sulphur. It is black in colour,
does not get attracted by a magnet and does not allow electric current to pass through it.
It reacts with dilute acids to from hydrogen sulphide gas. In short, the properties of neither iron nor
sulphur are exhibited by iron sulphide.
Conditions For Chemical Change
The criterion for a chemical change is the production of one or more new substances. Therefore,
certain conditions should be met in order to bring about a chemical change. The necessary
conditions are:
1.A minimum amount of energy needed to initiate a reaction, called the activation energy, should be
supplied in the form of heat, light or electric current. In a chemical change the reactants combine to
form new products. For this process it is necessary to break the old bonds of the reactants and forms
fresh bonds in order to give new products. This requires a certain amount of energy.
2. For the occurrence of any reaction, the molecules or atoms of the reactants must collide with one
another, in order to break old bonds and form new bonds.
3. The speed with which the chemical reaction takes place is called the rate of the chemical reaction.
This should be appreciable, to bring about the change.
4. The rate of a reaction depends on following factors:
Temperature
Presence of light
Presence of catalyst
Electricity
Pressure.
Temperature : Certain chemical reactions do not take place at room temperature but occur
readily at a higher temperature. Accordingly, heat is required to start the reaction e.g. fuels
like coal and wood only start burning when heated to a certain temperature called its ignition
temperature.
Presence of Light : Some reactions take place only in light and do not take place in dark e.g.
photosynthesis in green plants or reaction between H2 and Cl2 to form HCl.
Presence of a Catalyst : A catalyst is a substance that increases the rate of chemical reaction
without itself undergoing any change.Example: Hydrogenation of oils to form fats takes place
faster, in presence of nickel.
Electricity : Certain reactions take place with the help of an electric current.Example:
Decomposition of acidulated water to give hydrogen and oxygen gas
Pressure : Some chemical reactions need very high pressure to proceed. For e.g., in the
commercial manufacture of ammonia from nitrogen and hydrogen by Haber's process, a
pressure of over 200 atmosphere is required, in presence of a catalyst iron and a temperature
of 450oC to 500oC.
Examples of Chemical Changes
Below are the examples on chemical changes -
(a) Effect of heat on lead nitrate : Lead nitrate is a white, crystalline solid. When heated, it starts
decomposing with a
crackling sound, producing a reddish brown gas called nitrogen dioxide, and a colourless gas,
oxygen. A yellow residue of lead
monoxide is left behind in the test tube.
(b) Action of concentrated sulphuric acid on sugar :When concentrated sulphuric acid is added to
sugar, it becomes a
black mass of sugar charcoal. The acid removes all the water from the sugar, that is, hydrogen and
oxygen and absorbs it
leaving a residue of spongy carbon.
(c) Action of sodium on cold water :
When a small piece (pea size) of sodium is placed in cold water, it darts about on the water with a
hissing sound and produces hydrogen. The water left behind, acquires the property of turning red
litmus blue. This shows the presence of a basic substance, which is sodium hydroxide
Physical Change Chemical Change
No new or different substance is formed. Results in the formation of at least one new substance.
The composition of the substance, that The constituent particles of the new substance are
undergoes the change, remains different from the constituent particles of the original
unchanged substance
It is temporary change and in most cases
It is permanent change and cannot be reversed by mere
it can be reversed by the reversal of
reversal of conditions
conditions
Mass of the individual substances that undergoes the
No change occurs in the mass of the change, always, either increases or decreases. However,
substances undergoing the change the total mass of all the reactants is equal to the total mass
of all the products
Remember :
Sometimes both changes occur together. For example, when a person eats chocolate and then
digests it a physical and a
chemical change takes place. When the person chews the chocolate and breaks it into smaller pieces
- it is a physical change.
No new substances have been formed yet.
Once acted upon by saliva and other digestive juices, the chocolate is broken down into other
simpler substances, which can be
absorbed by the blood. This is a chemical change.
