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physical change

Primary Information
Secondary Information

Definition

A physical change is a change in the state or appearance of a substance, but not in its chemical composition. For example, if you melt a piece of ice, you have changed its state from solid to liquid, but the ice is still made of the same molecules.

Here are some other examples of physical changes:

  • Cutting paper
  • Bending a spoon
  • Breaking a pencil
  • Boiling water
  • Freezing water

How can the word be used?

The ice cube melted, a physical change.

physical change

Different forms of the word

Noun:

  • physical change (a change in the physical properties of a substance, such as its shape, size, or state of matter, without a change in its chemical composition).

Adjective:

  • physical (of or relating to the physical properties of a substance).

Etymology

The word "physical" comes from the Greek word "physikos", which means "of nature".

The word "physical change" was first used in English in the 17th century. It was used to refer to a change in the physical properties of a substance, such as its shape, size, or state of matter.

Question

What is a physical change? Provide an example.