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Common misconceptions about physical and chemical changes

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Final answer:

Misconceptions about physical and chemical changes include thinking all visible changes are chemical, all chemical changes are permanent, and that physical changes always affect the entire object or material.

Step-by-step explanation:

A common misconception about

physical

and

chemical changes

is that all visible changes are chemical changes. This isn't true. Physical changes, such as melting ice into water, are visible, but they don't alter the identity of the substance. Another misconception is that all chemical changes are permanent and cannot be reversed. This isn't always true either. For instance, the process of electrolysis of water, which breaks water down into hydrogen and oxygen, is reversible, although it requires energy. Additionally, some people believe that physical changes always affect the whole object or substance, while chemical changes only affect part. In fact, both physical and chemical changes can affect part of a substance or the whole thing, it depends on the specific situation.

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