Phase changes are _ changes
Physical
Chemical
Physical
Phase changes are physical changes.
Phase changes are physical changes.
To understand why, let's first define what phase changes are. A phase change refers to the transition of matter from one state (or phase) to another, such as from solid to liquid, liquid to gas, or vice versa.
Physical changes, including phase changes, do not involve any alteration in the chemical composition or molecular structure of a substance. Instead, they only involve a rearrangement of the particles within the substance.
In the case of phase changes, the arrangement and movement of molecules or atoms change, resulting in a different physical state of the substance. For example, when ice (solid) melts into water (liquid), the individual molecules retain their composition, but their arrangement and movement change, allowing them to have more freedom to slide past each other.
On the other hand, chemical changes involve the formation or breaking of chemical bonds, resulting in a change in the chemical composition of a substance. This leads to the creation of different substances with distinct properties.
Therefore, since phase changes do not involve any modification in the chemical composition, they are classified as physical changes.