Question

Which of the following situations describes a change that will result in a new kind of matter with different characteristics?

a. a bucket full of nails rusts in a damp basement
b. a puddle of water freezes into a sheet of ice
c. a sculptor chips away bits of marble to make a statue
d. a cook slices vegetables into tiny pieces to make soup

Answer 1

The situation where a bucket full of nails rusts in a damp basement represents a chemical change, as rusting results in new matter with different characteristics than the iron, oxygen, and water present before rust formed.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question asks us to identify which situation describes a change that results in a new kind of matter with different characteristics. This is asking about a chemical change, where the composition of the substance changes and thus, creates a new substance with different properties. Looking at the provided examples, the one that represents a chemical change is:

• a bucket full of nails rusts in a damp basement

The formation of rust from iron is a chemical change because the rust is indeed a different kind of matter with distinct characteristics compared to the original iron, oxygen, and water. Unlike the other scenarios mentioned, such as freezing water or physically altering the shape of marble or vegetables without changing their chemical composition, rusting involves a chemical reaction that alters the original substances' composition.