Why is it a physical change to freeze water?(1 point)
It is a physical change to freeze water because freezing is a phase change where water transitions from a liquid state to a solid state. This change occurs due to the decrease in temperature, causing the water molecules to slow down and come closer together, forming a rigid structure. However, no new substance is formed during freezing, and the chemical composition of water remains the same.
Freezing water is considered a physical change because it does not involve any chemical reactions. It is simply a change in the physical state of the substance, from a liquid to a solid, without altering its chemical composition. The water molecules slow down and arrange themselves into a regular, lattice-like structure as they lose energy, resulting in the formation of ice crystals.
Freezing water is considered a physical change because it does not involve any change in the chemical composition or identity of the substance. Instead, freezing refers to the conversion of water from its liquid state to a solid state, without altering its chemical structure. To understand why freezing is a physical change, let's break down the process and explain how to get to the answer:
1. Define the terms: Begin by understanding the meaning of "physical change." A physical change refers to a transformation in the physical properties of a substance without changing its chemical composition.
2. Identify the process: Identify the process in question, which is freezing water. Freezing involves the reduction of temperature below the freezing point of water (0 degrees Celsius or 32 degrees Fahrenheit), causing the water molecules to slow down and arrange themselves into a rigid, crystalline structure.
3. Analyze the chemical composition: Determine whether freezing alters the chemical composition of water. In this case, freezing does not change the water molecules' chemical structure. It simply causes them to rearrange in a regular pattern, resulting in the formation of a solid substance known as ice.
4. Assess the nature of the change: Consider whether the change in question involves any chemical reactions. In the case of freezing water, no chemical reactions occur. The water molecules remain composed of two hydrogen atoms bonded to one oxygen atom (H2O).
5. Conclusion: Based on the above analysis, freezing water is considered a physical change because it only involves a transformation in the physical properties of water, without altering its chemical composition or identity.