Why+Is+It+So?

Physical Change  When you step on a can you change the object. The state of the matter doesn't change, but you can see a difference in the object. Not all physical changes are as obvious. When you melt an ice cube, you change the physical matter of the object. You no longer have ice, you now have water. To change the matter you need to add energy (heat). You can cause physical changes by adding forces like motion, temperature or pressure.

Chemical Change  When you start with one chemical and turn it into something else you are seeing a chemical change. Some chemical changes are obvious and show a change in colour or shape. Others are less obvious and occur at a molecular level. An example of the difference between the two is... Melting a sugar cube is a physical change because the substance created is still sugar. BUT Burning a sugar cube is a chemical change because the energy of the fire has broken down the chemical bonds of the sugar.

Chemical Changes [|Calcium Capers] [|Gas Sudstation] [|Seeing Gas] [|CO2 experiment] [|Rust and Oxygen] [|Rust Crust] [|Pop Rockets] [|Polishing Pennies]

Physical Changes [|Easy Physical Change Experiments]

[|Experiments for kids]