CHRISTWOOD SCHOOL
GRADE-8 CHEMISTRY
LN-2 PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL CHANGES
Physical changes
Changes in which the original substance does not undergo any change in its chemical
composition and but affects only the physical properties of a substance.
Characteristics of a physical change:
• No new substance if formed.
• No change in the chemical composition.
• The change is only in the physical state, i.e., there is a change only in the appearance
of the substance.
• They are generally reversible.
• No change in the weight of the substances.
• Usually only a small amount of energy is required.
• It is temporary in nature.
• Physical change cannot be represented by an equation.
Examples of physical change
The changing of water into ice, ice into water, and water into steam, the dissolving of
sugar in water, melting of butter, glowing of a bulb, drying of wet clothes, melting of wax,
formation of dew, formation of vapour.
Chemical changes
A change in which the original substance undergoes a change in its chemical composition
and properties to produce a new substance with entirely new composition and properties.
Characteristics of a chemical change:
• A new substance is formed.
• There is a change in the physical appearance as well as in the chemical composition
of the original substance.
• A chemical change cannot be easily reversed
• There is a change in weight of the substances.
• There is always absorption or release of energy in a chemical change.
• It can be represented by an equation.
• It is permanent in nature.
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Examples of chemical change
The germination of a seed, cooking of rice, changing of milk into curd, ripening of
fruits, rusting of iron, digestion of food, burning of wood or paper or candlewick or
fuel.
Observations that indicate a chemical change
• Heat or light is absorbed or released.
• Production of sound
• Liberation of gas
• Formation of precipitate
• Production of smell
• A colour change may occur
Differences between physical and chemical changes
S.No Physical change Chemical change
1 No new substance is formed New substances with new properties are
formed
2 It is a temporary change and can be It is a permanent change and cannot be
reversed reversed
3 There is little or no exchange of There is always exchange of energy
energy
4 There is no change in the weight of The weight of the substance may get
the substance changed but total mass of reactants and
products remains the same
Questions to practise:
A. Classify the following changes as physical or chemical:
1. Burning of wood 6. Tearing of paper
2. Burning of candle 7. Melting of wax
3. Bursting of pipes in winter 8. Growing of a tree
4. Curdling of milk 9. Occurrence of lightning
5. Stretching of a rubber band 10.Switching on a lamp
B. Name the following:
1. A change that can be altered by reversing the conditions that brought about the
change.
2. A change in which the chemical composition of a substance remains the same.
3. The process by which a liquid change into a gas at any temperature.
4. A change in which energy is absorbed or released.
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5. The gaseous product of the chemical change which takes place during respiration
in living organisms.
C. Write T for true and F for false.
1. The melting of wax is a physical change.
2. Burning is a physical change in which no heat or light is released.
3. The folding and cutting of cloth are a chemical change.
4. Digestion is a physical change.
5. Dissolving of sugar in water is a physical change.
D. Fill in the blanks in the following statements:
1. Manufacture of salt from sea water is deemed as a ______________ change.
2. A change in which the substance can be brought back to its original state is a
________ change.
3. There is no change in the ______________________ of the substance during a
physical change.
4. Changes in which only _________ properties of a substance change are called
physical changes.
5. Changes in which new substances are formed are called _________ changes.
E. Give reasons. Why?
1. Breaking of glass is a physical change though it is irreversible.
2. Mixing of cement with water is an irreversible change.
3. Curdling of milk is a chemical change.
4. Freezing of water to ice is a physical change.
5. The boiling of water is a physical change while the boiling an egg is a chemical
change.
6. The melting of wax is a physical change while the burning of a candle is a
chemical change.
7. Rusting of iron is a chemical change but magnetisation of iron is a physical change.
8. A slice of an apple turns brown when exposed to air.
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CHRISTWOOD SCHOOL
GRADE-8 CHEMISTRY
Ln-3 ELEMENTS, COMPOUNDS AND MIXTURES
Names and symbols of some common elements Name and formula of some common
Compounds
Name of Formula of
Name Formula
elements element
Hydrogen H2 Water H2O
Oxygen O2 Carbon dioxide CO2
Nitrogen N2 Carbon monoxide CO
Fluorine F2 Nitrogen dioxide NO2
Chlorine Cl2 Sulphur dioxide SO2
Bromine Br2 Nitric oxide NO
Iodine I2 Hydrogen sulphide H2S
Phosphorus P4 Hydrogen chloride HCl
Sulphur S8 Ammonia NH3
Carbon C Hydrochloric acid HCl
Potassium K Sulphuric acid H2SO4
Sodium Na Nitric acid HNO3
Calcium Ca Ammonium hydroxide NH4OH
Magnesium Mg Sodium chloride NaCl
Aluminium Al Sodium hydroxide NaOH
Zinc Zn Calcium carbonate CaCO3
Iron Fe Copper sulphate CuSO4
Lead Pb
Copper Cu
Silver Ag
Gold Au
Helium He
Neon Ne
Argon Ar
Element
An element is a pure substance. It cannot be converted into anything simpler
than itself by any known physical or chemical method.
Atomicity: It is the number of atoms present in the molecule of an atom.
Monoatomic molecule – molecules containing only one atom. Example: Helium
(He), Neon (Ne), Argon(Ar), Boron (B), Carbon (C)
Diatomic molecule – molecules containing only two atoms. Example: Hydrogen
(H2), Oxygen (O2), Fluorine (F2), Nitrogen (N2), Chlorine (Cl2)
Polyatomic molecule – molecules containing more than two atoms. Example:
Ozone (O3), Phosphorous (P4), Sulphur (S8)
Compounds
It is a pure substance made up of two or more elements combined chemically in
a fixed ratio by mass.
