Suppose you place a kettle on the stove and boil some water.Is the steam that forms physical of chemical change?
physical, it is still H2O
To determine whether the steam that forms when you boil water is a physical or chemical change, we need to consider the nature of both physical and chemical changes.
A physical change refers to a change in the physical properties of a substance that does not alter its chemical composition. Examples of physical changes include changes in state (solid to liquid to gas) or changes in shape or size.
On the other hand, a chemical change involves a transformation at the molecular level, resulting in the formation of new substances with different chemical properties. Chemical changes typically involve the breaking and forming of chemical bonds.
When you boil water, the physical change of water molecules transitioning from a liquid state to a gaseous state occurs. The heat from the stove increases the kinetic energy of the water molecules, causing them to overcome intermolecular forces and escape into the air as steam. This change in state from liquid to gas is a physical change because it does not involve any alteration in the chemical composition of the water molecules. The steam still consists of H2O molecules, just like the liquid water.
Therefore, the formation of steam when boiling water is a physical change rather than a chemical change.