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Topic: Chemical or Physical Change  (Read 3834 times)

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Offline Limewire36

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Chemical or Physical Change
« on: September 07, 2010, 03:05:55 PM »
Hello, I'm looking for some help as to determine which of these are physical change and which are chemical change.

*Crude oil is separated into its different boiling point fractions by simple distillation (Is this a chemical change?)

*You strike a match, and it bursts into flames (Chemical change, right?)

* Sugar ferments into alcohol (Again, chemical change, right?)

* Hydrofluoric acid etches glass (Physical change?)

*A seedling grows into a tall tree (Is this both chemical and physical change?)

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Offline JGK

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Re: Chemical or Physical Change
« Reply #1 on: September 07, 2010, 04:16:09 PM »
All OK except the first, check out the process of distillation.
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Offline MrTeo

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Re: Chemical or Physical Change
« Reply #2 on: September 07, 2010, 05:26:34 PM »
All OK except the first, check out the process of distillation.

I think the reaction of HF with glass is a chemical change too...

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Offline opti384

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Re: Chemical or Physical Change
« Reply #3 on: September 08, 2010, 02:33:26 AM »
Quote
I think the reaction of HF with glass is a chemical change too...

Agreed, especially when there's acid and metal.

The last one looks interesting to me. I also think it could be both depending on how you consider growth.

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