Final answer:
Freezing water is a physical change because it involves a rearrangement of water molecules into a solid state without altering their chemical composition, remaining as H₂O with 11.19% hydrogen and 88.81% oxygen by mass.
Step-by-step explanation:
The process of freezing water is a physical change because it involves a rearrangement of water molecules without altering their chemical structure. When water freezes, it changes from a liquid to a solid state, but the composition remains the same, with 11.19% hydrogen and 88.81% oxygen by mass. Therefore, freezing water does not involve a change in the chemical composition of water, and it is categorized as a physical change.
Physical changes of matter, including freezing, are reversible. In the case of water, frozen ice can be melted back into liquid water. During the freezing process, water releases energy, usually in the form of heat, but the internal structure of water molecules remains unchanged.