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Quizzes > High School Quizzes > Science

Physical vs Chemical Change Practice Quiz

Enhance your grasp of physical and chemical changes

Difficulty: Moderate
Grade: Grade 6
Study OutcomesCheat Sheet
Colorful paper art promoting a high school science quiz on physical changes versus chemical reactions.

This Physical vs. Chemical Change quiz helps you practice telling physical changes from chemical ones using real‑world examples in high school science. Answer 20 quick questions, see your score at the end, and spot gaps to review before a test.

Which of the following is an example of a physical change?
Rusting iron
Baking a cake
Melting ice
Burning paper
Melting ice changes the state of water without creating a new substance. The other options involve chemical changes that result in new substances.
What does a physical change typically not involve?
Change in size
Change in state
Change in shape
Formation of a new substance
Physical changes alter the form or appearance of a substance but do not produce a new substance. Formation of a new substance is a hallmark of a chemical change.
What happens to water during the process of freezing?
It becomes a liquid
It changes from liquid to solid
It becomes a gas
It undergoes a chemical reaction
Freezing water is a physical change where water transitions from a liquid to a solid state. There is no alteration in water's chemical composition.
Which option correctly identifies a physical change?
Digesting food
Rusting metal
Burning paper
Cutting paper
Cutting paper only affects its shape and size, a common characteristic of physical changes. The other processes involve chemical reactions that alter the substance's composition.
What is usually reversible in physical changes?
New substance formation
Change in state
Change in meaning
Chemical reaction
Many physical changes, such as a change in state, are reversible since the original substance can be recovered. Chemical changes generally result in the formation of new substances and are often not easily reversible.
Which indicator is a sign of a chemical change rather than a physical change?
Gas production
Dissolving in water
Melting
Phase change
Gas production is a noticeable sign that a chemical reaction has occurred, as it indicates the formation of a new substance. Physical changes, such as phase changes or melting, do not produce gas.
Which example best illustrates a chemical change?
Dissolving sugar in tea
Evaporating water
Burning a candle
Breaking a glass
Burning a candle is a chemical change because it involves combustion, resulting in new substances such as carbon dioxide and water vapor. The other examples only involve physical changes.
During a chemical reaction, energy is often released. What is this release of energy commonly called?
Endothermic reaction
Physical compression
Exothermic reaction
Phase transition
An exothermic reaction is one in which energy is released, usually in the form of heat. This release of energy is a key indicator of a chemical reaction.
Which statement correctly differentiates a physical change from a chemical change?
A physical change permanently alters the substance's composition.
A chemical change involves a change in shape without altering the chemical composition.
A physical change mostly alters appearance and state but not composition, while a chemical change forms new substances.
Both physical and chemical changes always produce new substances.
A physical change modifies the appearance or state of a substance without changing its chemical makeup. In contrast, a chemical change results in the formation of one or more new substances through the rearrangement of atoms.
What characteristic is common in both physical and chemical changes?
They are always reversible
They do not involve temperature change
New substances are always formed
Energy is absorbed or released
Both physical and chemical changes involve energy transfer, either in the form of absorption or release of energy. The other characteristics are specific to chemical changes or not generally true.
Which of these changes is attributed to a chemical change?
Caramelizing sugar
Melting chocolate
Tearing paper
Crushing a can
Caramelizing sugar is a chemical change that alters the molecular structure, resulting in a new flavor and color. The other options represent physical changes where the substance's composition remains the same.
How does the conservation of mass apply to physical changes?
Mass increases due to energy release.
Mass is not conserved because some vanishes.
Mass reduces when dimensions change.
Mass remains constant because no new substances are created.
In physical changes, the mass of a substance does not change because the molecules remain the same, merely altered in arrangement or phase. This exemplifies the conservation of mass principle in physical processes.
Which scenario could be reversed by a simple physical process?
Combustion of gasoline
Rusting of iron
Freezing water
Cooking an egg
Freezing water is reversible; when heat is applied, it turns back to liquid. Chemical changes such as cooking, combustion, or rusting are typically irreversible.
When a substance dissolves in water, what type of change does it usually represent?
Physical change because no new substances are formed.
Chemical change because bonds are broken.
Chemical change because the substance disappears.
Physical change because energy is required.
Dissolving typically disperses the substance's particles in the solvent without altering their molecular structure, making it a physical change. No new substance is created in the process.
What distinguishes a chemical reaction from a phase change?
A phase change creates new substances.
A phase change involves a change in the state of matter without altering chemical structure.
A chemical reaction only occurs at high temperatures.
A chemical reaction reverses spontaneously.
A phase change merely alters the physical state of a substance while its chemical composition remains unchanged. A chemical reaction, however, results in the formation of new substances through the rearrangement of atoms.
Which evidence best supports that a substance has undergone a chemical change?
The substance changes state from solid to liquid
The substance can be melted back to its original form
The substance exhibits a new odor and color
The substance is physically shattered
A change in odor and color suggests the formation of new substances, a clear sign of a chemical reaction. Physical changes generally do not lead to the production of different substances.
A metal is placed in a saltwater solution and over time, it develops a tarnished surface. Which process is this and why?
Physical change, because the metal's mass decreases
Chemical change, because the metal's shape changes
Physical change, because there is only surface alteration
Chemical change, because corrosion involves oxidation forming new compounds
The tarnished surface results from corrosion - a chemical reaction where the metal reacts with elements in the saltwater to form new compounds like oxides. This chemical process cannot be undone by simple physical means.
In an experiment, a substance is heated until it decomposes and releases a gas. How would you distinguish if this process is primarily a chemical change or a physical change?
It is a physical change because the gas can be reabsorbed
It is a chemical change because removing heat can revert the gas to liquid
It is a physical change because heat is applied and the substance remains the same
It is a chemical change because decomposition leads to new substances forming along with gas evolution
Decomposition that releases a gas is indicative of chemical bond breakage and the formation of new products, including gases. This is a clear example of a chemical change rather than a mere physical state change.
When a reaction produces a precipitate in a solution, what does this suggest about the reaction, and why isn't it a physical change?
It indicates a chemical reaction because the particles are rearranged physically
It indicates a physical change because a change in state occurred
It indicates a chemical reaction because a new, insoluble substance is formed
It indicates a physical change because the solute merely separated from the solvent
The formation of a precipitate means that a chemical reaction has produced an insoluble compound that did not exist before. This is not a feature of a physical change, which only alters the state or appearance of a substance without creating new materials.
Consider a scenario where heating a substance changes its color and releases light. Which classification best fits this reaction and why?
Chemical change, because the substance undergoes a photoluminescent chemical reaction producing new products
Physical change, because heat only alters its temperature
Physical change, because the substance's state changes
Chemical change, because the substance melts
A change in color along with light emission generally indicates that the substance is undergoing a chemical reaction that alters its molecular structure and produces new compounds. This distinguishes the process from a simple physical change.
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Study Outcomes

  1. Identify the key differences between physical changes and chemical reactions.
  2. Analyze observable evidence to classify a change as physical or chemical.
  3. Explain the fundamental characteristics that distinguish physical transformations from chemical reactions.
  4. Apply scientific reasoning to predict outcomes of physical versus chemical changes.
  5. Evaluate real-world examples to determine if a change is physical or chemical.

Physical vs. Chemical Change Cheat Sheet

  1. Understand physical changes alter form without changing chemical composition. - These transformations, like melting ice or tearing paper, only affect a substance's shape or state and are generally reversible, making them easy to spot in everyday life. National Geographic Education
  2. Recognize chemical changes produce new substances with unique properties. - When you observe unexpected color shifts, bubbling gases, or sudden temperature changes, you're watching a chemical reaction craft something brand-new and often irreversible. These reactions power everything from rusting iron to the fizz in soda. LibreTexts Chemistry
  3. Spot key signs of chemical reactions. - Look for color changes, gas production, odor shifts, temperature jumps, or precipitate formation to flag a chemical change in action. For example, rusting iron slowly turns reddish-brown and creates an entirely new compound. LibreTexts Chemistry
  4. Use reversibility to distinguish physical vs. chemical changes. - Physical changes like freezing and melting water can flip back and forth, while chemical changes - such as burning wood - create new substances that can't simply revert. This trick makes identification a breeze in labs and kitchens alike. National Geographic Education
  5. Learn how physical changes tweak texture, shape, or state only. - Whether you're dissolving sugar in water, crushing a can, or snapping a piece of chalk, the substance retains its chemical identity. These alterations play starring roles in cooking, crafting, and materials science. National Geographic Education
  6. Know chemical changes break and form bonds to make new stuff. - From the flames of combustion to the slow oxidation of metals, bonds are shattered and reassembled into substances with brand-new properties. Digestion and photosynthesis also hinge on these fundamental transformations. LibreTexts Chemistry
  7. Remember energy shifts accompany chemical reactions. - Exothermic reactions, like burning wood, release heat and make your hand feel warm, while endothermic reactions, like photosynthesis, absorb energy and feel chilly. Tracking heat flow is a fun way to probe reaction dynamics. LibreTexts Chemistry
  8. Discover processes that blend physical and chemical changes. - Dissolving salt in water is purely physical, but if you electrolyze that solution, you'll spark a chemical change that splits it into new substances. Such transitions show how versatile matter transformations can be. LibreTexts Chemistry
  9. Practice spotting changes in everyday life. - Cooking an egg transforms it chemically into something completely new, while freezing juice into popsicles is a classic physical shift in state. The more you observe, the sharper your chemistry senses become! Pearson General Chemistry
  10. Use a catchy mnemonic to lock in the differences. - Try "Pretty Reversible for physical, Create New for chemical" to zip through quizzes and labs with confidence. Adding a fun phrase boosts memory and turns study time into play! Science Info
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