Question

When liquid water boils, a physical change occurs, creating water vapor, not a chemical change which would create hydrogen gas and oxygen gas. Explain why. Include in your response the difference between chemical bonds and intermolecular attractions.

A) True, because boiling is a physical change
B) True, because chemical bonds are not broken during boiling
C) False, because boiling creates hydrogen gas and oxygen gas
D) False, because boiling involves a chemical change

Answer 1

Boiling water is a physical change because it does not involve breaking or forming chemical bonds. Instead, the intermolecular attractions between water molecules are temporarily weakened, allowing them to escape as water vapor.

Step-by-step explanation:

When water boils, it undergoes a physical change rather than a chemical change. Boiling is a physical change because it does not involve the breaking or forming of chemical bonds. Instead, the intermolecular attractions between water molecules are temporarily weakened, allowing the molecules to escape as water vapor.

Physical changes, such as boiling and melting, involve a change in the arrangement or state of the substance, while chemical changes involve the formation or breaking of chemical bonds.