Class 7th Science​

5. Physical and Chemical Changes

🧠 Definitions
1️⃣ Physical Change
A change in which no new substance is formed and the original substance remains the same is called a

🟢
physical change.​
Example: Melting of ice, dissolving salt in water.

2️⃣ Chemical Change

🔴
A change in which a new substance is formed is called a chemical change.​
Example: Rusting of iron, burning of paper.

3️⃣ Rusting
When iron reacts with moisture and air and forms a brown flaky substance, it is called rusting.

4️⃣ Galvanisation
The process of coating iron objects with a layer of zinc to prevent rusting is called galvanisation.

5️⃣ Crystallisation
The process by which pure crystals of a substance are obtained from its solution is called crystallisation.

6️⃣ Change

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Any alteration that occurs in the state, shape, or form of a substance is called a change.​
It can be temporary (physical) or permanent (chemical).

7️⃣ Magnesium Oxide

It is a new substance formed when magnesium ribbon is burnt in air. It is white in colour and is an
example of a chemical change.

8️⃣ Carbon Dioxide (CO₂)

It is a colourless gas that turns lime water milky and is produced during burning and respiration.

9️⃣ Calcium Carbonate

It is a white insoluble substance formed when carbon dioxide is passed through lime water. It makes the
water look milky.

1️⃣0️⃣ Lime Water

It is a solution of calcium hydroxide in water. It turns milky when carbon dioxide is passed through it.

1️⃣1️⃣ Chemical Reaction

A chemical change always involves a chemical reaction, where one or more substances react to form
new substances.

1️⃣2️⃣ New Substance

In a chemical change, the product formed is a completely new substance with different properties.

🗂️ From Class 7 NCERT Science Book (Pages 47–56)

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🔹 Intext Questions and Answers
Q1. Is it possible to reverse the change? (Page 48)​
Answer:​
Yes, some changes can be reversed. These are called physical changes.

Q2. Could this change be reversed? (Page 49)​

Answer:​
No, the change could not be reversed. It is a chemical change.

Q3. Can you say the change is fast or slow? (Page 49)​
Answer:​
Rusting is a slow change. It takes a lot of time to happen.

Q4. Is it possible to reverse this change? (Page 50)​

Answer:​
No, burning of a candle is not reversible. It is a chemical change.

Q5. Is burning of paper a chemical change? (Page 50)​

Answer:​
Yes, burning of paper is a chemical change because new substances like ash and gases are formed.

Q6. Is dissolving salt in water a physical change? (Page 51)​

Answer:​
Yes, dissolving salt in water is a physical change because no new substance is formed.

Q7. What happens when magnesium ribbon is burnt? (Page 52)​

Answer:​
When magnesium ribbon is burnt, it gives a white ash called magnesium oxide and a lot of heat and
light. It is a chemical change.

🔹 End-of-Chapter Questions and Answers (Pages 55–56)

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Q1. Classify the changes involved in the following processes as physical or chemical changes:
(Page 55)

●​ a. Photosynthesis – Chemical change​

●​ b. Dissolving sugar in water – Physical change​

●​ c. Burning of coal – Chemical change​

●​ d. Melting of wax – Physical change​

●​ e. Beating aluminium to make aluminium foil – Physical change​

●​ f. Digestion of food – Chemical change​

Q2. State whether the following statements are true or false. (Page 55)

●​ a. Cutting a log of wood into pieces is a chemical change. – False​

●​ b. Formation of manure from leaves is a physical change. – False​

●​ c. Iron pipes coated with zinc do not get rusted easily. – True​

●​ d. Iron and rust are the same substances. – False​

●​ e. Condensation of steam is not a chemical change. – True​

Q3. Fill in the blanks in the following statements. (Page 55)

●​ a. When carbon dioxide is passed through lime water, it turns milky due to the formation of
calcium carbonate.​

●​ b. The chemical name of vinegar is acetic acid.​

●​ c. Changes in which only physical properties of a substance change are called physical changes.​

●​ d. Changes in which new substances are formed are called chemical changes.​

Q4. When baking soda is mixed with lemon juice, bubbles are formed with the evolution of a gas.
What type of change is it? (Page 55)​
Answer:​
It is a chemical change because a new substance (carbon dioxide gas) is formed with bubbles.

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Q5. When a candle burns, both physical and chemical changes take place. Explain. (Page 55)​
Answer:​
When a candle burns:

●​ The melting of wax is a physical change.​

●​ The burning of wax is a chemical change because new substances like carbon dioxide and smoke
are formed.​

Q6. How would you show that setting of curd is a chemical change? (Page 55)​
Answer:​
Setting of curd is a chemical change because milk changes into curd, and we cannot get milk back from
curd. A new substance is formed.

Q7. Explain why burning of wood and cutting it into small pieces are considered two different
types of changes. (Page 56)​
Answer:

●​ Cutting wood into pieces is a physical change because no new substance is formed.​

●​ Burning wood is a chemical change because new substances like ash, carbon dioxide, and smoke
are formed.​

Q8. Describe how crystals of copper sulphate are prepared. (Page 56)​
Answer:

1.​ Take a cup of water in a beaker.​

2.​ Add a few drops of dilute sulphuric acid.​

3.​ Heat the water.​

4.​ Add copper sulphate powder and stir until no more dissolves.​

5.​ Filter the solution and let it cool.​

6.​ Blue crystals of copper sulphate will form after some time.​

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Q9. Explain how painting of an iron gate prevents it from rusting. (Page 56)​
Answer:​
Painting the iron gate prevents it from coming in contact with air and moisture. This stops rusting.

Q10. Explain why rusting of iron objects is faster in coastal areas than in deserts. (Page 56)​
Answer:​
Rusting is faster in coastal areas because the air there has more moisture (humidity) compared to dry
desert areas.

Q11. The gas we use in the kitchen is called liquified petroleum gas (LPG). In the cylinder, it
exists as a liquid. When it comes out, it becomes a gas (change–A), then it burns (change–B).
What kind of changes are these? (Page 56)​
Answer:

●​ Change A (liquid to gas) is a physical change.​

●​ Change B (burning of gas) is a chemical change.​

Q12. While cooking, if the food gets burnt and a black layer is formed, is it a physical or chemical
change? (Page 56)​
Answer:​
It is a chemical change because a new substance (black layer or carbon) is formed and we cannot reverse
it.

Q13. Explain the difference between physical and chemical changes. (Page 56)

Answer:

Physical Change Chemical Change

No new substance is formed New substance is formed

Can be reversed sometimes Cannot be reversed easily

Example: Melting of ice Example: Burning of paper

Q14. Give one example each of a physical and a chemical change. (Page 56)​
Answer:

●​ Physical change: Melting of ice​

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 ●​ Chemical change: Burning of paper​

🎯📚Class 7 Science – Exam Special Practice Set​

Smart Revision & Practice Pack

1️⃣ Very Important Questions & Answers (VSA & SA + Conceptual)

Q1. What is a physical change?​

Answer: A physical change is a change in which no new substance is formed and the original substance
remains the same.

Q2. What is a chemical change?​

Answer: A chemical change is a change in which a new substance is formed with different properties.

Q3. Give one example each of a physical and a chemical change.​

Answer:

●​ Physical change – Melting of ice​

●​ Chemical change – Burning of paper​

Q4. Why is rusting of iron a chemical change?​

Answer: Rusting is a chemical change because a new substance (rust) is formed and it cannot be
reversed.

Q5. How does painting an iron gate prevent rusting?​

Answer: Painting forms a layer that prevents air and moisture from coming in contact with iron, thus
stopping rusting.

Q6. What is crystallisation? How is it different from evaporation?​

Answer: Crystallisation is the process of getting pure crystals from a solution. It is slower and gives
better quality crystals than evaporation.

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Q7. Explain why burning of a candle is both a physical and a chemical change.​
Answer:

●​ Melting of wax is a physical change.​

●​ Burning of wax is a chemical change as new substances like smoke and gases are formed.​

Q8. Why is change in state of water (ice to water to steam) called a physical change?​
Answer: Because no new substance is formed, and the change is reversible.

Q9. Describe an activity to show that a chemical change has taken place.​
Answer: When baking soda is mixed with lemon juice, bubbles are formed. This shows a chemical
change because a new gas (carbon dioxide) is formed.

2️⃣ Fill in the Blanks ✍️

👉
1.​ Burning of paper is a _________ change.​
chemical​

👉 chemical​
2.​ Rusting of iron is a _________ change.​

👉 physical​
3.​ Melting of ice is a _________ change.​

👉 galvanisation​
4.​ The process of depositing a layer of zinc on iron is called _________.​

👉 acetic acid​
5.​ The chemical name of vinegar is _________.​

👉 milky​
6.​ Passing carbon dioxide through lime water turns it _________.​

👉 pure​
7.​ Crystallisation gives _________ crystals of a substance.​

👉 chemical​
8.​ A change that cannot be reversed is called a _________ change.​

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3️⃣ True or False ✔️❌
1.​ Boiling of water is a chemical change. – ❌ False​
2.​ A new substance is formed during a chemical change. – ✔️ True​
3.​ Galvanisation prevents rusting of iron. – ✔️ True​
❌ False​
4.​ Evaporation and condensation are chemical changes. –

5.​ Burning of magnesium ribbon produces a new substance. – ✔️ True​

4️⃣ Tick the Correct Answer (MCQs) ✅

Q1. Which of the following is a chemical change?​
a) Melting of butter​
b) Freezing of water​
c) Rusting of iron​

👉✅
d) Breaking of glass​
c) Rusting of iron

Q2. What turns lime water milky?​

a) Oxygen​
b) Nitrogen​
c) Carbon dioxide​

👉✅
d) Water vapour​
c) Carbon dioxide

Q3. The brown substance formed on iron due to rusting is called:​

a) Copper sulphate​
b) Iron sulphide​
c) Iron oxide​

👉✅
d) Iron hydroxide​
c) Iron oxide

Q4. Which process is used to get pure crystals of copper sulphate?​

a) Distillation​
b) Filtration​
c) Crystallisation​

👉✅
d) Sedimentation​
c) Crystallisation

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5️⃣ Match the Following 🔗
Column A Column B

Rusting of iron Chemical change

Melting of ice Physical change

Galvanisation Prevents rusting

Burning of candle wax Both physical and chemical

Crystallisation Purification process

6️⃣ Define the Following 📘

1. Physical Change​
A change in which no new substance is formed is called a physical change.

2. Chemical Change​
A change in which a new substance is formed is called a chemical change.

3. Rusting​
The formation of brown flaky substance on iron when it reacts with air and moisture is called rusting.

4. Galvanisation​
The process of coating iron objects with zinc to prevent rusting is called galvanisation.

5. Crystallisation​
The process of forming pure solid crystals from a solution is called crystallisation.

6. Lime Water​
It is a solution of calcium hydroxide in water that turns milky when carbon dioxide is passed through it.

7️⃣ Name the Following / Give Examples 🧠

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👉
Q1. Name one change that is both physical and chemical.​
Burning of a candle

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Q2. Give one example of a reversible change.​
Melting of ice

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Q3. Give one example of an irreversible change.​
Burning of paper

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Q4. Name a gas that turns lime water milky.​
Carbon dioxide

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Q5. Name one substance used to prevent rusting of iron.​
Zinc (used in galvanisation)

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