When we talk about how things change, it's important to know the difference between physical changes and chemical changes.

Physical Changes:

• What It Is: A physical change affects how something looks or feels, but it doesn't change what it's made of.
• Examples:
  • Melting ice to make water.
  • Cutting paper into smaller pieces.
  • Mixing sugar into water until it disappears.

You can usually change things back to how they were. For example, if you freeze water again, it turns back to ice.

Chemical Changes:

• What It Is: A chemical change turns a substance into something new, changing what it’s made of.
• Examples:
  • Rust forming on iron.
  • Burning wood.
  • Mixing vinegar and baking soda to create bubbles.

These changes usually can’t be undone. Once you burn wood, you can't change the ash back into wood.

Knowing these differences helps us understand the materials we use every day!