Which of the following is a physical change?a)Burning woodb)Rusting ir...
Dissolving salt in water is a physical change because it involves mixing salt with water without altering the chemical structure of the salt. Unlike chemical changes such as burning or rusting, the salt can be recovered by evaporating the water.
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Which of the following is a physical change?a)Burning woodb)Rusting ir...
Physical Change:
Physical change refers to a change in a substance that does not involve a change in the substance's chemical composition. In other words, the molecules of the substance remain the same before and after the change.
Dissolving salt in water:
- When salt is dissolved in water, it is considered a physical change because the salt molecules are simply dispersed throughout the water molecules.
- The chemical composition of salt remains the same, as it is still made up of sodium and chloride ions.
- The process of dissolving salt in water is reversible, meaning the salt can be retrieved by evaporating the water, without changing its chemical makeup.
In contrast, burning wood (a) involves a chemical change as the wood undergoes combustion and forms new substances. Rusting iron (b) also involves a chemical change as the iron reacts with oxygen to form iron oxide. Fermenting grapes (d) is a biochemical process that involves the conversion of sugars into alcohol and carbon dioxide by microorganisms, which is also a chemical change.
Therefore, dissolving salt in water is the only physical change among the options provided.
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