Matter and changes worksheet
Name: ___________________Group: _____
Part 1: Determine whether each of the following scenarios is a physical or a chemical change. List the
evidence you used to come up with the conclusion.
Scenario
Physical or
chemical change
evidence
1. A student removes a loaf of bread
hot from the oven. He cuts a slice off
the loaf and spreads butter on it.
Physical
The only thing that changed is the
shape from loaf to slice. It is still
bread.
2. Your friend decides to toast a piece
of bread, but leaves it in the toaster
too long. The bread is black now and
the kitchen if full of smoke.
Chemical
The bread if black now. (burnt)
Release of smoke (new
substance)
Tastes bad now
3. You left the bread knife in the
bottom of the sink after you used it
and reddish brown spots appeared
on it.
Chemical
Brown spots (change of color,
suggesting new substance.)
4. When baking biscuits, the baking
soda releases carbon dioxide and
causes the dough to rise.
Chemical
Release of carbon dioxide.
After baking, the dough (not
edible) turned into biscuit (edible)
5. You take out your best set of silver
spoons and notice that they are very
dull and have some black spots.
Chemical
Black spots, suggesting formation
of new substance
Dull in appearance
6. A straight piece of wire is coiled to
form a spring.
Physical
The only thing that changed is the
shape from string to coil. The
material remains the same.
7. A few drops of food coloring is
added to a cup of water to give it
color.
Physical
The only change is that the food
coloring became dispersed in
water. No new substance formed.
Still same color as food coloring
8. Chewing French fries to break them
down into smaller pieces
Physical
French fries changes from a long
slice into smaller pieces. They are
still French fries.
9. Enzymes in the digestive system
break down the French fries.
Chemical
French fries is mainly starch.
Enzyme breaks it down to
sugar/glucose.
