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Apart from physical changes, there are also other types, namely chemical changes which occur due to chemical reactions resulting in the production of a new substance.
Both have their own characteristics that differentiate them from each other. So, what are the characteristics of physical changes? Here’s a summary below.
What is Physical Changes
Reported from the Gramedia page. com, physical change is a form of change in the substance of an object that can only be seen and observed from its physical appearance. In this form of change, the substance can also return to its original state after the substance changes.
Physical changes do not change the chemical composition of the substance. Apart from that, this form of change does not change the material at all or form a new type of substance in an object.
Apart from the definition above, there are also several other definitions that have been put forward by experts, namely:
1. Latifah
According to Latifah. Physical changes are microscopic changes in the state of matter, which makes it difficult for many students to understand this concept.
2. PEDIA
PEDIA reports that physical changes are changes in the form of matter. Even though changes occur, they do not change the chemical composition of the material itself.
3. Petrucci
According to Petrucci (2011), physical change is the process of changing the physical appearance of an object that changes shape.
Types of Physical Changes
Quoted from the Quipper Blog page, there are several types of physical changes which are divided based on their causes. The types are:
1. Physical Changes Due to Changes in Form
Changes in form include physical changes. Usually, changes in the form of this substance occur due to the influence of temperature or heating. Examples of changes in the state of matter are as follows.
- Freeze
Freezing is a change in the state of a substance from liquid to solid due to a decrease in temperature. Examples of freezing events are water being frozen into ice, melted wax which will harden when it cools, and so on.
- Melt
Melting is a change in the state of a substance from solid to liquid due to heating. For example, butter will melt when heated, ice will melt if placed at room temperature, chocolate bars will melt if heated, and so on.
- Condense
Condensation is a change in the state of a substance from gas to liquid because the substance releases its heat energy. An example of condensation is water droplets on plants in the morning.
- Evaporate
Evaporation is a change in the state of a substance from liquid to gas due to heating. For example, when you boil water, the longer you leave it, the water will decrease until it runs out. The water runs out because it turns into steam.
- Sublimate
Sublimation is a change in the state of a substance from solid to gas. For example, camphor will get smaller and run out when placed in the room.
- Crystallize
Crystallization is a change in the state of a substance from vapor to solid due to too low a temperature. For example, the formation of snow in winter.
2. Physical Changes Due to Changes in Shape
Changes in the shape of objects can also be categorized as physical changes. This is because changes in form do not change the properties of the initial substance.
For example, teak wood is carved and shaped into a cupboard or chair, paper is cut into the shape of a bird, and so on.
3. Physical Changes Due to Changes in Size
Apart from changing the shape, physical changes can also be marked by changes in size which can be caused by pressure or the grinding process. For example, black coffee is ground into coffee powder, rice is ground into rice flour, and so on.
4. Physical Changes Due to Changes in Volume
Changes in the volume of a substance also indicate a physical change. This is because increasing or decreasing the volume does not affect the properties of the substance. For example, water shrinks when heated.
Characteristics of Physical Changes (Pexels)
5. Physical Changes Due to Changes in Energy Forms
Energy changes also include physical changes. Remember, changes in energy do not result in changes in the properties of the initial substance. For example, the rotation of a fan blade when it is turned on.
6. Physical Changes Due to Dissolution
The dissolution process can result in physical and chemical changes. Physical changes in the dissolution process occur if the dissolved substance does not change its chemical composition. For example, sand dissolved in water where the sand will not change its substance after being dissolved.
Characteristics of Physical Change
The following are several characteristics or characteristics of physical changes that can be studied to better understand them.
1. It is reversible
The first characteristic is that physical changes are reversible, or can be reversed. In this case, some are easy to return to their original form, others are difficult to return to their original form. An example is an ice lolly that freezes to become liquid. When it has melted, the liquid can be turned back into ice lolly if put in the freezer.
2. The shape changes that occur do not form new substances
In a physical change, a substance or object that undergoes a change in form from its original form still has the same properties as its original nature.
3. Does not undergo chemical processes
Another characteristic is that objects or substances that undergo physical processes do not give rise to fundamentally different substances. Thus, the shape changes that occur are not caused by a chemical reaction process.
4. Only Physical Changes in Substances Occur
Physical change is a form of change that only occurs in the physical substance. For example, changing shape, changing color, density, turbidity, magnetism and many more.
From the characteristics above, it can be concluded that physical changes are limited by changes in appearance but do not change the composition.
Examples of Physical Changes
The following are examples of physical changes that are often found in everyday life.
- Melting: a solid block of ice can melt itself into water.
- Freezing: water frozen in the freezer can become ice, gelatin becomes solid, oil freezes.
- Smelting/melting: melting iron, or melting heated wax.
- Dissolution: brewed milk with water, brewed syrup, coffee or tea.
- Condensation: hot water that is tightly closed can fog up, cold or air-conditioned rooms will create dew and it can be seen on the glass.