Ch.1 - Introduction: Matter, Energy, and Measurement

Problem 23c

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Chapter 1, Problem 23c

Label each of the following as either a physical process or a chemical process: c. pulverizing an aspirin

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Physical Process

A physical process involves changes in the state or appearance of a substance without altering its chemical composition. Examples include phase changes like melting or boiling, as well as mechanical processes like grinding or pulverizing. In these cases, the substance retains its original chemical identity.

Chemical Process

A chemical process involves a transformation that changes the chemical composition of a substance, resulting in the formation of new substances. This can include reactions such as combustion, oxidation, or synthesis, where the original materials undergo a chemical change and cannot be easily reverted to their original form.

Pulverizing

Pulverizing refers to the mechanical process of breaking down a substance into smaller particles or powder. In the case of aspirin, pulverizing does not change its chemical structure; it simply alters its physical form, making it easier to dissolve or mix with other substances. Thus, it is classified as a physical process.

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Related Practice

Textbook Question

(a) Read the following description of the element zinc and indicate which are physical properties and which are chemical properties. Zinc melts at 420 °C. When zinc granules are added to dilute sulfuric acid, hydrogen is given off and the metal dissolves. Zinc has a hardness on the Mohs scale of 2.5 and a density of 7.13 g/cm³ at 25 °C. It reacts slowly with oxygen gas at elevated temperatures to form zinc oxide, ZnO.

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Textbook Question

(b) Which properties of zinc can you describe from the photo? Are these physical or chemical properties?

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Textbook Question

Label each of the following as either a physical process or a chemical process: b. boiling a cup of water

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Textbook Question

A match is lit and held under a cold piece of metal. The following observations are made: (a) The match burns. (b) The metal gets warmer. (c) Water condenses on the metal. (d) Soot (carbon) is deposited on the metal. Which of these occurrences are due to physical changes, and which are due to chemical changes?

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Textbook Question

For each of the following processes, would filtration, distillation, or chromatography be the most effective separation technique:

a. removing the pulp from freshly squeezed orange juice,

b. separating a food dye into its individual components,

c. desalinating seawater?

Textbook Question

A silvery metal is put inside a beaker of water. Bubbles form on the surface of the metal and it dissolves gradually. (a) Is this an example of a chemical or a physical change?

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