Final answer:
Polishing a marble tile is a physical change because it only alters its appearance or state without transforming it into a different kind of matter. For a change to be chemical, it must transform the matter into something with different properties.
Step-by-step explanation:
Polishing a marble tile is considered a physical change. A physical change is any change that does not alter the chemical makeup of the substance. When you polish a marble tile, you are altering its appearance and making it smoother - but the substance itself remains marble. No new substances are formed in the process.
To understand this better, let's consider an example in Figure 1.18. When wax is melted, it changes from a solid to a liquid. Similarly, when steam is condensed, it changes from a gaseous state to a liquid. Both these transformations are physical changes - the substance itself (wax or water) remains the same, only its state is changed.
In contrast, a chemical change is one that transforms one kind of matter into a different kind of matter, with different properties. Rusting of an iron object is an example of a chemical change, where the iron combines with oxygen in the air to form rust.
Learn more about Physical and Chemical Changes