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Another way in which the distinction between chemical and physical changes is often expressed is to state that only chemical reactions involve the rearrangement of atoms. Again, this distinction may again be misleading because cutting a piece of paper is a rearrangement of atoms.

Examples of physical change include:
  • Change of state (such as solid to liquid)

  • Creation or separation of a Mixture (including homogeneous mixtures, where the solute may not be visible)

  • Physical deformation (cutting, denting, stretching, etc.)

  • Physical relocation (moving an object)

  • Change in color by addition of dye


Some expanded examples:
  • If a piece of paper is cut up into small pieces it still is paper. This is a physical change in the shape and size of the paper. If the same piece of paper is burned, it is broken up into different substances that are not paper, and thus burning is a chemical reaction. (Paper itself is a mixture of substances.)

  • If one decided to mix sugar into water to make sugar water, this would be a physical change as the water could be evaporated and sugar crystals would reappear. However, if one baked a cake with flour, water, sugar and other ingredients, new substances would appear. It would take extraordinary means to return the various ingredients out to their original form. Chemical reactions occur in the baking process, and the changes are chemical changes.