Look at the pictures below.
Forest Fire:
Fire in progress
Fire extinguished
Claim - Is this a chemical change or a physical change?
Based on the pictures provided, it can be concluded that a forest fire involves a chemical change.
Evidence - What did you observe? Use the sentence stems below to answer the question with one or more complete sentences for full credit.
Looking at the pictures, I observed that there is a transformation in the appearance and composition of the forest during the fire (from a green, intact landscape to a raging, destructive blaze), which suggests a chemical change. Additionally, the presence of smoke, ash, and charred remains after the fire indicates the release of gases and the alteration of the organic matter, further supporting the occurrence of a chemical change.
Reasoning - How does your evidence support your claim? Use the sentence stems below to answer the question with one or more complete sentences for full credit.
The evidence of the transformation in the appearance and composition of the forest during the fire indicates that a chemical change is taking place. Chemical changes involve the rearrangement of atoms and the formation of new substances, which is evident in the visual changes observed in the forest. The release of smoke, ash, and charred remains also suggests the breakdown and transformation of organic matter through chemical reactions. These observations support the claim that a forest fire involves a chemical change.
Based on the pictures provided, the transformation from "Forest Fire" to "Fire extinguished" can be considered both a chemical change and a physical change.
During a forest fire, different chemical reactions occur as the organic matter in the forest undergoes combustion. This process involves the release of energy, the consumption of oxygen, and the production of heat, light, and various gases and smoke.
Once the fire is extinguished, the remaining ashes and burned materials can be seen as physical changes. The structure and composition of the burned materials might have altered, but no new substances have been formed.
In conclusion, the transformation from "Forest Fire" to "Fire extinguished" involves both chemical changes (combustion reactions) and physical changes (alterations in structure and composition).
To determine if the change is a chemical or physical change, we need to understand the definition of each type of change.
A chemical change involves a chemical reaction, where new substances are formed with different properties from the original ones. This process usually results in the release or absorption of heat, light, gas, or the formation of a precipitate.
A physical change, on the other hand, does not involve a change in the chemical composition of the substances. It only affects the physical properties, such as size, shape, color, or state of matter (solid, liquid, or gas), without forming new substances.
Looking at the pictures, we can see that a forest fire is initially shown in progress, then it is shown as extinguished. Based on this information, we can conclude that it is a chemical change.
Here's why:
1. The forest fire involves the combustion of trees, leaves, and other flammable materials, which is a chemical reaction. During this reaction, new substances, such as carbon dioxide, water vapor, and ashes, are formed.
2. The release of heat, light, and smoke during the fire are also indications of a chemical change. Heat is released as a result of the exothermic reaction occurring during the fire.
3. The extinguished fire results in ashes, which are the residue left behind after the combustion. This ash is different chemically from the original material and is a product of the chemical change that occurred during the fire.
Therefore, based on these observations, we can confidently say that a forest fire is a chemical change.