Final answer:
Putting sodium metal in water causes a physical change by dissolving and forming sodium ions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct answer is:
- Putting it in water
When a solid piece of sodium metal is placed in water, a chemical reaction occurs that results in the production of hydrogen gas and sodium hydroxide. This is a chemical change, but it also leads to a physical change in the sodium metal as it dissolves and forms sodium ions in the water.
While hitting it with a hammer and exposing it to chlorine gas are also examples of chemical changes, they do not directly cause a physical change in the solid sodium metal. On the other hand, dissolving in acid is another chemical change that results in the production of a salt and water, with no direct impact on the physical state of the sodium metal.
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