Name: _______________________________
Physical and Chemical Changes of Matter Pre Lab
Chemical and Physical Properties
The properties of a substance are those characteristics that are used to identify or describe it. When we say that
water is "wet", or that silver is "shiny", we are describing materials in terms of their properties. Properties can
be divided into the categories of physical properties and chemical properties. Physical properties are readily
observable, like; color, size, luster, or smell. Chemical properties are only observable during a chemical
reaction. For example, you might not know if sulfur is combustible unless you tried to burn it.
Pieces of matter undergo various changes all of the time. Some changes, like an increase in temperature, are
relatively minor. Other changes, like the combustion of a piece of wood, are fairly drastic. These changes are
divided into the categories of Physical and Chemical change. The main factor that distinguishes one category
form the other is whether or not a particular change results in the production of a new substance.
Chemical and Physical Changes
Physical changes are those changes that do not result in the production of a new substance. If you melt a
block of ice, you still have H2O at the end of the change. If you break a bottle, you still have glass. Painting a
piece of wood will not make it stop being wood. Some common examples of physical changes are; melting,
freezing, condensing, breaking, crushing, cutting, and bending. Special types of physical changes where any
object changes state, such as when water freezes or evaporates, are sometimes called change of state
operations.
Chemical changes, or chemical reactions, are changes that result in the production of another
substance. When you burn a log in a fireplace, you are carrying out a chemical reaction that releases
carbon. When you light your Bunsen burner in lab, you are carrying out a chemical reaction that produces
water and carbon dioxide. Common examples of chemical changes that you may be somewhat familiar with
are; digestion, respiration, photosynthesis, burning, and decomposition. Bottom line is that there is some type of
observable product made from a chemical change. There are many signs that a chemical change has taken place
including: a change in temperature, smoke appears, a color changes, a smell appears, a new substance
appears…
Questions:
1) What is a physical property? Give some examples.
2) What is a chemical property? Give some examples.
3) What is a physical change? Give some examples.
4) What is a chemical change? Give some examples.
5) This reading mentions Chemical/Physical Properties and Chemical/Physical Changes. What is the
difference between Properties and Changes?
6) If you were to mix two substances together, what would you look for to determine if there was either a
chemical change or physical change?
7) List several signs that a chemical change has taken place.
8) Is a phase of matter change a chemical or physical change? Explain:
Hell’s Kitchen
Chemical Changes-Explain
Physical Changes-Explain
Lab Task—You will be conducting a series of chemical and physical changes on helpless gummy
bears at different stations. Your job is to determine how to best torture a gummy. Good Luck…
Safety—today’s lab is NO JOKE at many of the stations. Goggles MUST BE WORN AT ALL TIMES
(so as to avoid changing yourself physically or chemically). Also Note—If the smoke alarm is
accidentally set off—Blame Miller. Dispose of all used chemicals into the provided waste beakers.
Station DEMONSTRATION STATION IN FRONT—check back in about a half hour to see changes in
gummy.
Station 1: Slash and Smash---This station will require 2 gummies. For the first gummy, put them on
the piece of wood and slash them. For the second gummy—go to the freezer in the back room and
take a frozen gummy out. You will then bring gummy back to station 1 and smash him with a
hammer.
Station 2: Boiling and Sinking! Your hot plate should be on with water already heated up. Place a
gummy in the suspended test tube. Take a pipette and add the blue biuret solution to the test tube
until the gummy is submerged in solution. Lower the test tube into the hot water and observe.
After—remove test tube and place in white waste container.
Station 3: Toxic Bath BE CAREFUL!!! Place one gummy in the test tube. Next, fill water using the
squirt bottle into the test tube about 2 fingers worth. Add ONE piece of calcium using the scoopula to
the test tube and step back to observe. The solution may spit so watch out. After the
reaction…make sure the outside of the test tube is dry and feel the bottom of the test tube. The
solution inside is toxic, do not spill. After—remove test tube and place in plastic waste container.
Station 4: Special Chamber!
Station 5: Volcanic Eruption. Place one gummy in test tube. Take one scoopula of sodium
bicarbonate and place in test tube with gummy. Add one squirt of acetic acid using the pipette and
observe. After—remove test tube and place in plastic waste container.
Station 6: Roaster. Place one gummy in test tube. Turn on gas and light burner using matches and
wood splint. Put all burnt stuff in waste container in sink. Lower test tube into the fire, observe!
After—remove test tube and place in plastic waste container in sink.
Station
Number
Substance
in Test
Tube
Demo
Drowning in
water
1
Slash and
Smash
2
Boiling and
SInking
3
Toxic Bath
4
Special
Chamber
5
Volcanic
Eruption
6
Roaster
Observations
Physical or Chemical Change and Why
Post Lab Questions:
1. Which stations were the physical changes and which were the chemical changes?
2. List several signs that chemical changes had taken place:
3. Which station was the most gummy torture?!?