Burning wood is a chemical change or physical change
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
Correct Answer: Burning wood is a chemical change.
Explanation:
Burning wood is classified as a chemical change because it results in the formation of new substances. When wood burns, it reacts with oxygen in the air during a process called combustion. This reaction produces entirely different substances such as carbon dioxide, water vapor, ash, and other gases. These products have different chemical properties from the original wood.
A chemical change is defined as a process in which one or more substances are transformed into new substances with different chemical compositions. Indicators of a chemical change include color changes, temperature changes, gas production, formation of a precipitate, and the release of light or heat. In the case of burning wood, several of these indicators are present. There is the release of heat and light, a color change as the wood turns black and eventually becomes ash, and the emission of smoke and gases.
In contrast, a physical change involves changes in physical properties such as size, shape, state, or appearance, without changing the chemical identity of the substance. Examples of physical changes include melting ice, breaking a glass, or cutting wood. These changes do not produce new substances.
When wood burns, it undergoes irreversible changes. Once it is burned, it cannot return to its original state as wood. The chemical bonds within the cellulose, lignin, and other organic compounds in the wood are broken and recombined to form new substances. This irreversible process confirms that it is a chemical change.
In summary, burning wood is a chemical change because it produces new substances with different chemical properties and cannot be reversed by simple physical means. The change involves a chemical reaction, not just a change in form or appearance.
