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Quizzes > Science

Physical and Chemical Changes Quiz: physical change practice problems

Quick, free quiz to test your knowledge of classifying physical and chemical changes. Instant results.

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Justin LeppanenUpdated Aug 27, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
Grade: Grade 9
Study OutcomesCheat Sheet
Colorful paper art promoting a trivia quiz on chemical vs physical changes for high school students.

This quiz helps you practice classifying physical and chemical changes with clear, real-world and lab examples. Work through 20 questions, get instant feedback, and see brief explanations so you know why each answer fits. Need more practice? Try our physical vs chemical change quiz, explore another chemical and physical changes quiz, or review with the physical vs chemical properties quiz.

Which of the following is an example of a physical change?
Digesting food
Rusting iron
Burning wood
Melting ice
Melting ice does not involve any change in chemical composition; it only involves a change of state from solid to liquid. This distinguishes it as a physical change.
Which process below is a chemical change?
Burning paper
Shredding paper
Dissolving salt in water
Boiling water
Burning paper involves rapid oxidation and produces new substances (ash and gases), making it a chemical change. The other processes leave the chemical composition unaltered.
What is a common indicator of a chemical change?
Dissolving
Color change
Freezing
Melting
A color change often signals that new substances are being formed as a result of a chemical reaction. Physical changes such as melting or freezing do not alter the chemical makeup of substances.
Which characteristic is typical of a physical change?
A reversible change
Irreversible transformation
Energy release through combustion
Formation of a new substance
Physical changes are typically reversible because the original substance can be recovered. The formation of new substances is characteristic of chemical changes, not physical ones.
When water boils, what type of change occurs?
No change
Both physical and chemical changes
Physical change
Chemical change
Boiling water represents a phase transition from liquid to gas without altering the molecular structure of water. Therefore, it is classified as a physical change.
Which of the following scenarios best illustrates a chemical change?
Ice melting in a drink
Water boiling on a stove
Iron rusting on a nail
Sugar dissolving in tea
Rusting of iron involves oxidation and forms iron oxide, a completely new compound, indicating a chemical change. The other scenarios involve mere physical changes.
Baking a cake is an example of which type of change?
Chemical change
No change
Physical change
Both chemical and physical change
Baking a cake involves chemical reactions such as the Maillard reaction and leavening reactions, creating new flavors and textures. These reactions fundamentally change the ingredients' structure.
Why is dissolving salt in water considered a physical change?
Because it produces significant heat
Because the salt chemically reacts with water
Because water transforms into another compound
Because the salt remains chemically unchanged
When salt dissolves in water, its ionic components disperse without changing the chemical identity of the salt. This absence of new substance formation indicates a physical change.
Which feature is NOT typically a sign of a chemical change?
Change in odor
Formation of a precipitate
Evolution of gas
Change in particle size
A change in particle size, such as cutting or grinding, is usually related to physical changes. In contrast, the formation of a precipitate, odor change, or gas evolution are indicators of chemical reactions.
The conversion of liquid water to steam is an example of what type of change?
A physical change
No change
A chemical change
Both chemical and physical changes
Boiling water simply involves a change in its physical state from liquid to gas, without any chemical alteration to the water molecules. Hence, it is classified as a physical change.
Mixing vinegar and baking soda results in bubbling due to:
A dissolving process
Evaporation
Physical agitation
A chemical reaction producing carbon dioxide
The reaction of vinegar with baking soda produces carbon dioxide gas, a clear sign of a chemical reaction. This production of gas also indicates the formation of new chemical compounds.
Which of the following is true about physical changes?
They result in the creation of new compounds
They involve energy changes without forming new substances
They are irreversible
They always require the input of heat
Physical changes involve energy changes, such as heating or cooling, but do not result in the formation of new chemical substances. The properties of the original material remain intact.
The browning of an apple when exposed to air is primarily caused by:
A physical change due to cutting
Oxidation, which is a chemical change
Melting of the apple's surface
Evaporation of water
The browning of an apple is caused by oxidation when enzymes interact with oxygen, producing new compounds. This process is a chemical change rather than just a physical change.
Which statement correctly differentiates chemical changes from physical changes?
Chemical changes are easily reversible, and physical changes are not.
Both chemical and physical changes always require the addition or removal of heat.
Physical changes create new substances, whereas chemical changes only involve state changes.
Chemical changes alter the composition of substances, while physical changes do not.
Chemical changes result in the formation of new substances by altering the molecular composition, whereas physical changes only affect the state or appearance. This difference is key to identifying chemical reactions.
In an experiment, a reaction produces both a gas and noticeable heat. What type of change is most likely occurring?
Physical change
Neither physical nor chemical
Both physical and chemical change
Chemical change
The simultaneous production of gas and heat typically indicates an exothermic chemical reaction. These signs are clear indicators that chemical bonds are breaking and new ones are forming.
During a chemical reaction, why might energy be released in the form of light?
Due to an exothermic reaction releasing energy
Due to absorption of heat
Because the molecules remain unchanged
Because of melting, which is a physical change
Exothermic reactions release energy when bonds are broken and reformed, sometimes emitting light. This energy release is a hallmark of chemical changes and differentiates them from physical changes.
Which experiment best demonstrates the distinction between a physical and a chemical change?
Grinding salt crystals into powder
Observing water freezing versus burning ethanol
Dissolving sugar in water
Measuring the melting point of ice
Freezing water involves a physical change, while burning ethanol is a chemical reaction that produces new substances like carbon dioxide and water. Comparing these processes clearly shows the differences between physical and chemical changes.
In a laboratory, which observation would provide the strongest evidence that a chemical change has occurred?
An object is broken into smaller pieces
A solution becomes clearer
A gas is produced with a distinct odor
A substance changes from a solid to a liquid
The production of a gas with a distinct odor is strong evidence of a chemical reaction, indicating new substances are being formed. Physical changes rarely produce such distinctive observable effects.
If a metal is heated and develops a flaky, brittle coating on its surface, this is most likely due to:
Melting and re-solidification
A chemical reaction forming an oxide layer
A physical change from expansion
Physical erosion due to heat
Heating a metal in the presence of oxygen often causes oxidation, forming a new oxide layer. This transformation creates a substance with different properties and is a chemical change.
Consider a process where a polymer decomposes into its monomers when subjected to extreme heat. This process is known as:
Melting
Polymerization
Physical degradation
Depolymerization, a chemical change
Depolymerization involves breaking the chemical bonds within a polymer to form its monomers, which is a chemical change. This process alters the chemical composition of the material rather than just its physical state.
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Study Outcomes

  1. Analyze scenarios to distinguish between chemical and physical changes.
  2. Identify key indicators that signal a chemical reaction.
  3. Evaluate examples to classify them as either chemical or physical changes.
  4. Apply conceptual knowledge to predict outcomes of various change processes.

Chemistry: Physical & Chemical Changes Quiz|QuizMaker Cheat Sheet

  1. Physical changes reshape matter - A physical change alters a substance's form or state without changing its chemical makeup. Imagine ice cubes turning into water or sugar dissolving in your morning tea - same substance, brand new look!
  2. Chemical changes create new substances - In a chemical change, atoms rearrange to form entirely new compounds with different properties. Spotting a color shift, fizzing bubbles, or a solid precipitate hints that molecules have had a makeover.
  3. Reversibility vs. permanence - Physical changes are usually reversible - freeze melted water back into ice and voilà! Chemical changes, like burning wood into ash, tend to be one-way street events that don't easily rewind.
  4. Energy makes the magic happen - Both physical and chemical changes involve energy, but chemical reactions often pack a bigger punch due to bond breaking and forming. Whether it's melting chocolate or igniting a sparkler, energy is always the backstage crew.
  5. Common physical change examples - Melting, freezing, boiling, condensation, sublimation, and deposition are the A-list of state changes that swap form, not substance. Picture fog turning into dew - that's deposition in action!
  6. Everyday chemical change heroes - Combustion (burning candles), oxidation (rusty bike chains), decomposition, and synthesis reactions create fresh new compounds. Your backyard bonfire and baking bread are starring examples!
  7. Particle diagrams as your secret visual aid - Sketching little dots that rearrange helps you see matter conservation during physical changes. It's like creating a cartoon storyboard of molecules dancing without changing costumes.
  8. Bond breaking and forming - Chemical changes hinge on breaking old bonds and forging new ones, giving birth to substances with brand-new quirks. Think of it like molecular speed dating!
  9. Key indicators to watch for - Look for energy changes, color shifts, gas bubbles, or solid precipitates to tell physical and chemical changes apart. These visual and thermal cues are your super-sleuth clues in the lab.
  10. Practice makes perfect - Train your eyes on everyday scenes: ice melting in a soda is a physical change, while cookies baking in the oven are undergoing chemical transformations. Daily detective work cements your knowledge!
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