describe a physical change that appears to change chemically???
One example of a physical change that appears to change chemically is when wood is burned. When wood is exposed to heat and oxygen, it undergoes combustion, resulting in the release of heat, light, and smoke. At first glance, this may seem like a chemical change, but it is actually a physical change called combustion.
To understand why this is a physical change, we need to look at the fundamental difference between chemical and physical changes. In a chemical change, new substances are formed with different molecular compositions. However, in a physical change, the molecular composition remains the same, and only the physical properties, such as shape, size, or state, may be altered.
When wood burns, it undergoes a chemical reaction with oxygen in the air, resulting in the formation of new substances like carbon dioxide, water vapor, and ash. However, the actual burning process is a physical change involving the release of energy in the form of heat and light, as well as the production of smoke due to the incomplete combustion of wood.
Therefore, although the overall reaction may involve chemical changes, the act of burning wood is considered a physical change because it primarily involves alterations in its physical properties rather than its molecular composition.