Physical vs Chemical Changes
Distinguish between physical changes (reversible, no new substances formed) and chemical changes (new substances formed, often irreversible), using conservation of mass to understand both types
Typical age: 11–13 years
“If your child dissolved sugar in tea versus burnt toast in the toaster, could they explain which is a physical change and which is a chemical change — and what test would show that mass is conserved in both cases?”
0 / 4 mastered
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Needs first
- The Particle Model
The distinction between physical and chemical change is clearest at the particle level
- Conservation of MassREQUIRED
KS3 conservation of mass in reactions extends US KS2 evidence that mass is conserved regardless of change type
- Irreversible ChangesREQUIRED
KS3 chemical changes deepens KS2 understanding that burning, rusting and acid reactions form new materials
- Reversible ChangesREQUIRED
KS3 physical vs chemical changes extends KS2 reversible vs irreversible changes
- Atoms, Elements & CompoundsREQUIRED
Chemical changes involve rearrangement of atoms into new substances — atom/compound concepts are required