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Multiple Choice

What is it called when matter changes from one state of matter to another?

When matter changes state, it is a physical change because the substance keeps the same chemical identity even as its arrangement and energy change. Melting, freezing, vaporization, condensation, and sublimation involve altering how the molecules are arranged or how much energy they have, but no new substances are created. This is why it’s described as a phase transition, a precise way to name state changes, yet still fits under the umbrella of a physical change. In contrast, a chemical reaction would produce new substances by breaking and forming chemical bonds, and isomerization involves rearranging atoms within a molecule to form a different isomer. So the change of state is best described as a physical change.

When matter changes state, it is a physical change because the substance keeps the same chemical identity even as its arrangement and energy change. Melting, freezing, vaporization, condensation, and sublimation involve altering how the molecules are arranged or how much energy they have, but no new substances are created. This is why it’s described as a phase transition, a precise way to name state changes, yet still fits under the umbrella of a physical change. In contrast, a chemical reaction would produce new substances by breaking and forming chemical bonds, and isomerization involves rearranging atoms within a molecule to form a different isomer. So the change of state is best described as a physical change.