Burning is a chemical change. It involves a chemical reaction, typically with oxygen, which results in the formation of new substances and the release of energy in the form of heat and light. 1 The original substance undergoes a transformation, changing its chemical composition and properties.
Well, this was just a simple answer. But there are few more things to know about this topic which will make your concept super clear.
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Key Takeaways: Is Burning a Physical or Chemical Change?
- Burning is a chemical change because it involves a chemical reaction that results in the formation of new substances with different properties from the original ones.
- Burning is not considered a physical change because it involves a chemical reaction that results in the formation of new substances with different chemical properties than the original ones.
- In contrast, physical changes involve a change in the physical properties of a substance, such as its shape, size, or state (solid, liquid, gas), without altering its chemical composition.
Why is burning a chemical change?
Burning is considered a chemical change because it involves a chemical reaction that results in the formation of new substances with different properties from the original ones. 2 When a substance burns, it undergoes a process called combustion, which typically involves combining with oxygen. 3
During combustion, the substance reacts with oxygen in the air, producing heat, light, and various byproducts. The reactants (the substance being burned and oxygen) are transformed into new products (such as carbon dioxide, water vapor, ash, and potentially other gases). These products have different chemical compositions and properties compared to the original substance.
The combustion process involves breaking chemical bonds in the reactants and forming new bonds to create the products. This rearrangement of atoms and molecules leads to the creation of entirely new substances.
Therefore, burning is classified as a chemical change rather than a physical change, which only involves a rearrangement of molecules or a change in state without altering the chemical composition of the substances involved.
It’s worth noting that burning is not the only chemical change. Other examples of chemical changes include rusting of iron, fermentation of sugar, and digestion of food, all of which involve the formation of new substances through chemical reactions.
Why is burning not a physical change?
Burning is not considered a physical change because it involves a chemical reaction that results in the formation of new substances with different chemical properties than the original ones. In a physical change, the substance may undergo a change in state or form, but its chemical composition remains the same. 4 5
During burning, the reactants (the substance being burned and oxygen) undergo a chemical reaction, which involves the breaking and forming of chemical bonds. This rearrangement of atoms and molecules leads to the creation of new substances with different chemical compositions. The process of burning produces heat, light, and various byproducts, such as carbon dioxide and water vapor, which are chemically distinct from the original substance.
In contrast, physical changes involve a change in the physical properties of a substance, such as its shape, size, or state (solid, liquid, gas), without altering its chemical composition. 6 Examples of physical changes include melting ice, boiling water, or dissolving sugar in water. In these cases, the substance may change its form, but its fundamental chemical structure remains unchanged.
Therefore, burning is classified as a chemical change because it involves a transformation at the molecular level, resulting in the formation of new substances with different chemical properties.
Further reading
Is Frying (or Cooking) an Egg a Chemical Change?
Is Cooking a Physical or Chemical Change?
Why is Digestion of Food a Chemical Change?
Is Milk Souring a Physical or Chemical Change?
Is Baking a Cake a Physical or Chemical Change?
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References
- The Chemistry of Combustion. (n.d.). The Chemistry of Combustion. https://www.chem.fsu.edu/chemlab/chm1020c/Lecture%207/01.php
- Combustion and Burning | Energy Foundations for High School Chemistry. (n.d.). Combustion and Burning | Energy Foundations for High School Chemistry. https://highschoolenergy.acs.org/how-do-we-use-energy/combustion-and-burning.html
- Combustion. (n.d.). Combustion. https://www.grc.nasa.gov/www/k-12/airplane/combst1.html
- Physical & Chemical Changes in Matter – Teachers (U.S. National Park Service). (n.d.). Physical & Chemical Changes in Matter – Teachers (U.S. National Park Service). https://www.nps.gov/teachers/classrooms/physical-chemical-changes-in-matter.htm
- Chemical Change vs. Physical Change. (2013, October 2). Chemistry LibreTexts. https://chem.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Physical_and_Theoretical_Chemistry_Textbook_Maps/Supplemental_Modules_(Physical_and_Theoretical_Chemistry)/Fundamentals/Chemical_Change_vs._Physical_Change
- Physical change – Wikipedia. (2011, November 1). Physical Change – Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physical_change
