Question

A gold ingot is hammered to form gold leaf - is this a physical or chemical change?

1) Physical change
2) Chemical change

Answer 1

Hammering a gold ingot into gold leaf is a physical change as the chemical composition of the gold remains unaltered, only the physical form changes.

Step-by-step explanation:

When a gold ingot is hammered into gold leaf, this is representative of a physical change. Hammering a gold ingot into gold leaf is a physical change as the chemical composition of the gold remains unaltered, only the physical form changes. This process involves altering the physical appearance of the gold by converting it into a much thinner form.

However, during this process, there is no alteration to the chemical composition of the gold; it remains elemental gold. Thus, the identity of the matter does not change, and no new substance is produced. This is akin to other physical changes such as melting ice into water or tearing a piece of paper; the material's composition remains the same while only its form is altered.