Final answer:
A puddle of water evaporating is a physical change because it involves a change of state from liquid to gas without altering the chemical structure of water, and it is reversible. Therefore, the correct answer is 1) physical change.
Step-by-step explanation:
A puddle of water evaporating is an example of a physical change. During evaporation, the water changes from a liquid to a gas, which is known as vaporization - a specific type of physical change where a substance changes its state.
The molecular structure of water (H₂O) remains the same in both liquid and gaseous forms. No new substances are formed, indicating that this process is not a chemical change.
Additionally, this change is reversible; the water vapor can condense back into liquid water. Physical changes that involve a change of state, like evaporation, are generally reversible.
In a physical change, the substances involved do not undergo any change in their molecular structure. When water evaporates, it changes from a liquid to a gas, but the water molecules remain the same. No new substances are formed.