Physical vs. Chemical Changes
Physical changes don't alter what a substance is made of—only its appearance or form changes. When ice melts into water, it's still H₂O molecules, just arranged differently. Other examples include cutting paper, dissolving sugar in tea, or bending a wire.
Chemical changes transform matter into something new with different properties. During these changes (also called chemical reactions), the bonds between atoms break and reform to create new substances. When iron rusts, it combines with oxygen to form iron oxide—a completely different substance with new properties.
You can spot chemical changes by looking for telltale signs color changes, gas production (bubbles), heat or light released, or the formation of a solid in a liquid (precipitate). When baking soda meets vinegar and fizzes, that's a chemical change producing sodium acetate, water, and carbon dioxide.
Try this! The next time you eat s'mores, notice both physical changes (chocolate melting) and chemical changes (marshmallow browning) happening right before your eyes!