Enjoy any 5 free lessons!
You can pick. No account needed.
Watch VideoBecome a member to get full access to our entire library of learning videos, reading material, quiz games, simple DIY activities & more.
Become a member to get full access to our entire library of learning videos, quiz games, & more.
Plans & Pricingto watch this full video.
Access All Videos
and Lessons, No Limits.
Access All Videos
No credit card required,
takes 7 sec to signup.
No card required
Ready-to-go lessons
that save you time.
Ready-to-go lessons
If you are on a school computer or network, ask your tech person to whitelist these URLs:
*.wistia.com, fast.wistia.com, fast.wistia.net, embedwistia-a.akamaihd.net
Sometimes a simple refresh solves this issue. If you need further help, contact us.
Chemical vs. Physical Changes
- Show lesson plan & teacher guide
- Show answers to discussion questions
- Show video only
- Allow visiting of other pages
- Hide assessments
- In a chemical change we form an entirely new substance.
- In a physical change, we don't form a new substance.
- Physical changes also occur when matter changes states.
-
Discussion Questions
-
Before VideoHow are chemical changes different from physical changes?ANSWER
-
Chemical changes happen when substances change to form new ones, while physical changes do not form any new substances.
-
Heating bread in a toaster is a chemical change. The surface of the bread burns, forming a new substance.
-
Blending the banana, berries, water and hot dog chops them up into tiny pieces, but doesn’t create a new substance. Therefore, it is an example of a physical change.
-
Evaporation means to turn a liquid into a gas. Water in gas form is not a new substance (it is still water) so that makes it a physical change.
-
-
After VideoWhat happens when Zoe stirs the very hot water with the spoon made from Gallium metal? What kind of change happens?ANSWER
-
When Zoe stirs the hot water with the Gallium spoon, the metal melts. This is an example of a physical change because the Gallium changed forms, but it didn’t change into a new substance (it is still Gallium).
-
When Dr. Jeff drops the gummy candy into the tube containing oxidizer, the gummy candy bursts into flames producing smoke and carbon (new substances). Therefore, this is a chemical change.
-
Dr. Jeff, Izzy and Zoe used a balloon to collect some of the gas produced when soda and Mentos were combined. They then tested this gas to determine its properties. They concluded that it was carbon dioxide by observing that it extinguished candles.
-
Carbon dioxide gas is heavier than air. This is why it stays inside the pitcher. When Zoe pours it at the top of the steps, it flows down the steps because it is heavier than the air that was there. When the carbon dioxide displaces the air, the candle doesn't have enough oxygen, so it goes out. This process happens to each candle as the carbon dioxide sinks lower and lower.
-
It was unclear at first whether the reaction that caused the soda to fizz uncontrollably was a chemical or physical change. The team investigated and determined that the gas produced was carbon dioxide, which is the same gas already used to make the soda fizzy. That means it is not a new substance, making this a physical change.
-
A flame test is a way to tell different types of gases apart. Scientists know how different types of gas will react when exposed to a flame. For example, oxygen would make the match glow brighter, carbon dioxide would make it go out, and hydrogen can burn so it makes a POP sound when next to a flame. These are the most common gases tested in a flame test but there are others as well.
-
Carbon dioxide displaces the oxygen the flame needs to burn, which causes the flame to go out (the effect). When a flame is placed near hydrogen, it causes a popping noise (the effect) as the hydrogen burns.
-
A mixture contains two or more substances that are not chemically combined. Mixtures can be physically separated into their individual components. Examples include: Paper clips and staples mixed together, rocks and gravel, marbles and dice or salt and pepper.
-
Whipping egg whites simply adds air into the egg whites, making them foamy. They are still egg whites (not a new substance) so this is a physical change.
-
-
-
Vocabulary
-
Catalyst
DEFINE
A substance that speeds up a chemical reaction.
-
Chemical Change
DEFINE
A type of change in which a new substance is formed. For example: burning something.
-
Physical Change
DEFINE
A type of change in which a new substance is NOT formed. For example: water boiling.
-
Oxidizer
DEFINE
A chemical that provides a lot of oxygen to help things burn.
-
Carbon Dioxide
DEFINE
A gas without any color or smell that is commonly found in soda. It is also called CO2 and comes out the back of a car or bus that is running.
-
Hydrogen
DEFINE
A gas less dense than air that has no color or smell. It is extremely flammable meaning it can burn.
-
States of Matter
DEFINE
The main forms matter can exist in: Solid, Liquid and Gas (also plasma but that is less common on earth).
-
Catalyst
DEFINE
-
Reading Material
Download as PDF Download PDF View as Separate PageDEFINITIONS OF PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL CHANGESIn a chemical change, a new substance is made, like when you burn a candle. In a physical change, no new substance is made, like when water turns to ice.
To better understand the difference between chemical vs. physical changes….
DEFINITIONS OF PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL CHANGES. In a chemical change, a new substance is made, like when you burn a candle. In a physical change, no new substance is made, like when water turns to ice. To better understand the difference between chemical vs. physical changes….LET’S BREAK IT DOWN!
Chemical changes make new substances
Anytime a new substance is made, a chemical change takes place. Usually two or more materials are combined and a new substance is formed. A chemical change can produce amazing explosions, like fireworks. Some chemical changes are a little more difficult to spot, like when a nail rusts.
If you notice bubbles being formed, or a change in color or temperature, there is a good chance a chemical change has taken place, but not always. Scientists can determine if a chemical change has occurred by asking this question: Was the substance formed present before? If the answer is no, then it is a chemical change.
Since chemical changes make new substances, most of them cannot easily be undone. For example, when you burn wood, you can't really turn the gases back into a log very easily.
Chemical changes make new substances Anytime a new substance is made, a chemical change takes place. Usually two or more materials are combined and a new substance is formed. A chemical change can produce amazing explosions, like fireworks. Some chemical changes are a little more difficult to spot, like when a nail rusts. If you notice bubbles being formed, or a change in color or temperature, there is a good chance a chemical change has taken place, but not always. Scientists can determine if a chemical change has occurred by asking this question: Was the substance formed present before? If the answer is no, then it is a chemical change. Since chemical changes make new substances, most of them cannot easily be undone. For example, when you burn wood, you can't really turn the gases back into a log very easily.Physical changes do not make a new substance.
Physical changes come in many forms. It can be a change in the shape or appearance of an object, like crumpling a piece of paper, or cutting, bending, or dissolving something.
Since objects do not become a different substance during a physical change, it is usually easy to reverse the change. For example, if you dissolve sugar in water you can easily reverse the change by evaporating the water from the solution. When all the water evaporates, sugar crystals will be left behind.
Physical changes do not make a new substance. Physical changes come in many forms. It can be a change in the shape or appearance of an object, like crumpling a piece of paper, or cutting, bending, or dissolving something. Since objects do not become a different substance during a physical change, it is usually easy to reverse the change. For example, if you dissolve sugar in water you can easily reverse the change by evaporating the water from the solution. When all the water evaporates, sugar crystals will be left behind.Physical changes also happen when matter changes states.
There are three common states of matter: solid, liquid, and gas. When a substance changes states (from a liquid to a gas, for example), it is undergoing a physical change.
In the video, when the gallium spoon melted in hot water, the gallium did not become a different metal. Melting is an example of a phase change, where a solid is changed to a liquid. Freezing and boiling are also physical changes.
Physical changes also happen when matter changes states. There are three common states of matter: solid, liquid, and gas. When a substance changes states (from a liquid to a gas, for example), it is undergoing a physical change. In the video, when the gallium spoon melted in hot water, the gallium did not become a different metal. Melting is an example of a phase change, where a solid is changed to a liquid. Freezing and boiling are also physical changes.Chemical and physical changes are all around us.
Chemical and physical changes take place around you all the time. When you make cereal for breakfast, combining the milk and cereal is a physical change. When you eat the cereal, a chemical change happens during digestion.
Sometimes, it can be difficult to tell if a chemical or physical change is taking place. In the video, Dr. Jeff and the team explore a few different reactions to determine if they are chemical or physical changes, by figuring out if the material made after the reaction was present before the reaction.
Chemical and physical changes are all around us. Chemical and physical changes take place around you all the time. When you make cereal for breakfast, combining the milk and cereal is a physical change. When you eat the cereal, a chemical change happens during digestion. Sometimes, it can be difficult to tell if a chemical or physical change is taking place. In the video, Dr. Jeff and the team explore a few different reactions to determine if they are chemical or physical changes, by figuring out if the material made after the reaction was present before the reaction. -
DIY Activity Guide
-
Teacher Resources
These downloadable teacher resources can help you create a full lesson around the video. These PDFs incorporate using class discussion questions, vocabulary lists, printable worksheets, quizzes, games, and more.
Select a Google Form
Choose a way to play this quiz game
-
Questions appear on the teacher's screen. Students answer on their own devices.
-
A self-paced game with questions and answers shown on the student's device.
Start a Free Trial Today. Get a $5 Amazon Gift Card!
Teachers! Start a free trial & we'll send your gift card within 1 day. Only cards left. Try it now.
This email is associated with a Science Kit subscription. Kit subscriptions are managed on this separate page: Manage Subscription
-
Science & Math$/yr
-
Science Only$/yr
How is a chemical change different from a physical change?
List 2 examples of each kind of change from your daily life.
Two liquids are mixed and bubbles form. Is this a chemical or physical change? Explain.
access all lessons
• No credit card required •
"My students loved the videos. I started the video subscription in May and used them as a review before the state test, which I know contributed to 100% of my class passing the state test."
Rhonda Fox 4th Grade Teacher, Ocala, Florida• No credit card required •
"My students loved the videos. I started the video subscription in May and used them as a review before the state test, which I know contributed to 100% of my class passing the state test."
Rhonda Fox 4th Grade Teacher, Ocala, Florida• No credit card required •
Already a member? Sign In
* no credit card required *
* no credit card required *
* no credit card required *
no credit card required
Skip, I will use a 3 day free trial
Enjoy your free 30 days trial
-
Unlimited access to our full library
of videos & lessons for grades K-5. -
You won’t be billed unless you keep your
account open past your 14-day free trial. -
You can cancel anytime in 1 click on the
manage account page or by emailing us.
-
Unlimited access to our full library of videos & lessons for grades K-5.
-
You won't be billed unless you keep your account open past 14 days.
-
You can cancel anytime in 1-click on the manage account page.
Cancel anytime in 1-click on the manage account page before the trial ends and you won't be charged.
Otherwise you will pay just $10 CAD/month for the service as long as your account is open.
Cancel anytime on the manage account page in 1-click and you won't be charged.
Otherwise you will pay $10 CAD/month for the service as long as your account is open.
We just sent you a confirmation email. Enjoy!
DonePlease login or join.