87.3k views
3 votes
Missy and Ethan discussed examples of the types of changes in matter.

In which example is a chemical change taking place?

1 Answer

3 votes

Final answer:

A chemical change takes place when a substance undergoes a reaction that alters its molecular structure and produces new substances, such as the burning of a candle or the combustion of natural gas.

Step-by-step explanation:

In which example is a chemical change taking place? Chemical changes involve a process where new substances with different properties from the original ones are formed.

One clear example of a chemical change is the burning of a candle, where the wax reacts with oxygen in the air to produce carbon dioxide and water. This reaction involves a change in molecular structure, resulting in substances with different chemical properties than those of the reactants. Another example is the combustion of natural gas in a furnace, where methane (CH4) reacts with oxygen to form carbon dioxide and water, again a process where the molecular structure is altered and new substances are formed.

Physical changes, on the other hand, do not produce new substances -- the composition remains the same even if the form appears different, such as when water changes from solid to liquid or gas.

User Petyo Ivanov
by
8.6k points
Welcome to QAmmunity.org, where you can ask questions and receive answers from other members of our community.