Essential Chemical Change Methods: From Physical to Biological Processes
Heraclitus, a Greek philosopher, quoted that “Change is the only constant in life”. The impacts that a change produces can help us identify it. Regardless of whether we are aware of it, people continue to see it daily. Whether it’s a day turning into a night or water freezing over. Although some changes take longer to manifest than others, some do so more quickly, however things change with time.
Additionally, a pencil loses length over time. When a substance is cooked, its qualities are altered. When heated, an iron bar becomes flaming hot, which can result in a color change which is visible to human eyes. A soccer ball is moved when we kick it. A child's weight and height fluctuate as they grow. For every change, there is some cause or reason, which is discussed below in this article.
What is Change?
Change happens when something undergoes a transformation in structure, location, dimension, colour, condition, look, and content as a result of an external or internal event. Either a persistent or interim modification will occur.
Now let's attempt to characterise the change in terms of science. It is an action that causes something to form or transform into something different from how it was before. For example, water is generated when the ice melts. As a result, it changes from a solid to a liquid state.
Types of Changes
There are different types of changes which occur around us, which are classified as below:
Slow and fast changes
Periodic and non-periodic changes
Reversible and irreversible changes
both man-made and natural changes
Positive and negative changes
Controlled and uncontrolled changes
Which is a Way to Make a Change Happen?
Humans look at a variety of change instances, including slow and fast change, reversible and irreversible change, wanted and unwanted change, physical and chemical change, etc. Different ways to make a change are listed below. By heating, cooling, exerting pressure, and combining, things can change with time. A closer look at other ways to bring change is explained below.
Changes generated by temperature: Temperature changes or fluctuations have the potential to bring forth change. Most of the time, such a change modifies the object's shape. For example, Water freezes and turns to ice when it is subjected to cold temperatures for an extended duration of time. In a similar way, water changes from a liquid to a gas when exposed to high heat. So, we may claim that it is caused by temperature.
Changes caused by pressure: By exerting a specific amount of pressure on an item, one can occasionally modify its shape. Whenever a sculptor turns statues out of stone, that will be among the best illustrations of this. He\she uses a chisel and a hammer to exert pressure on the rock, shaping it into a statue. Parallel to this, a goldsmith flattens a lump of gold by applying pressure on it before using it to fashion elaborate ornaments. As a result, one can assert that pressure can cause change.
Changes due to chemical mixing: When two compounds are combined, some changes take place. For example, when salt and water are combined, the salt dissolves and creates a salt solution, changing the composition of the salt. As a result, one can infer that chemical combinations may also cause change to happen.
How We Can Change?
In scientific terms, physically and mentally we change from our birth to our death. These changes can occur naturally or when any external force is applied to us.
Interesting Facts
We can return salt and water to their original state so that they can be combined once more to create an identical salt solution. So, adding salt to water is a reversible change.
This kind of alteration is also referred to as a physical change since salt and water don't interact. The majority of the physical alterations can be undone.
Mixing curd in warm milk is an irreversible change which is also referred to as chemical change since turning curd to milk again is not possible.
Key Features to Remember
Change happens when an entity faces certain factors which can be external or internal elements that result in a change in the entity's location, shape, colour, condition, look, or composition.
Changes can happen both in human beings and non-living things either naturally or by applying any external pressure.
Changes might be slow or fast, periodic or ad hoc, reversible or irreversible, and beneficial or unfavourable.
These modifications take place in a variety of ways via heating, cooling, exerting pressure, and combining two or more items.
FAQs on Other Ways to Bring Change in Chemistry: Explained Clearly
1. What are some common ways to bring about a change in a substance?
You can bring about changes in a substance in several ways. The most common methods include heating or cooling it, applying pressure, or mixing it with another substance. For example, heating water turns it into steam, and mixing lemon juice with milk causes it to curdle.
2. What is the main difference between a physical and a chemical change?
The main difference lies in whether a new substance is formed. In a physical change, like melting ice into water, the substance's form changes but its chemical identity does not. In a chemical change, like burning wood, a completely new substance (ash and smoke) with new properties is created.
3. Can you explain what reversible and irreversible changes are with examples?
A reversible change is one that can be undone, meaning you can get back the original substance. For example, freezing water to make ice is reversible because you can melt the ice back into water. An irreversible change is permanent and cannot be undone. For instance, you cannot turn a cooked egg back into a raw egg.
4. How does heating cause materials to change?
Heating adds energy to the particles of a substance, causing them to move faster and further apart. This often leads to expansion, where the material takes up more space. If enough heat is added, it can cause a change in state, such as a solid melting into a liquid or a liquid evaporating into a gas.
5. Why is the rusting of an iron gate considered a chemical change?
Rusting is a chemical change because the iron reacts with oxygen and moisture in the air to form a completely new substance called iron oxide, or rust. Rust has different properties than iron—it is flaky and reddish-brown. Since a new substance is formed and you cannot easily turn rust back into iron, it's a chemical change, not just a physical one.
6. Is dissolving sugar in water a physical or a chemical change? Why?
Dissolving sugar in water is a physical change. This can be confusing because the sugar seems to disappear, but no new substance is actually created. The sugar molecules simply spread out in the water. You can reverse this change by evaporating the water, which will leave the sugar crystals behind.
7. Are all physical changes reversible? Explain with an example.
No, not all physical changes are easily reversible. While many are, like melting ice, some are not. For example, tearing a piece of paper is a physical change because it is still paper, but you cannot easily put the tiny pieces back together perfectly to get the original sheet.
8. What is an example of a periodic change that happens in nature?
A periodic change is a change that repeats itself after a regular interval of time. A great example from nature is the changing of seasons. We know that after winter comes spring, then summer, and then autumn in a predictable, repeating cycle every year. The phases of the moon are another example of a periodic change.
