3.5.1

Physical Reactions

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Conservation of Mass

In a chemical reaction, no mass is lost or gained during the reaction. Mass is also conserved during a physical reaction.

Illustrative background for Conservation of massIllustrative background for Conservation of mass ?? "content

Conservation of mass

  • A chemical reaction is when atoms of the starting reactants rearrange.
  • In a chemical reaction, the mass of the reactants is the same as the mass of the products.
  • In a physical reaction, there is no rearrangement of atoms and so the mass will also be the same.
Illustrative background for Physical reactionsIllustrative background for Physical reactions ?? "content

Physical reactions

  • A change of state is an example of a physical reaction.
  • The mass at the start will be the same as the mass at the end.
  • Other physical reactions include:
    • Dissolving sugar into a cup of tea.
    • A melting ice cream.
    • Boiling the kettle to make a hot chocolate.

Jump to other topics

1Biology

1.1Cells, Tissues & Organs

1.2Reproduction & Variation

1.3Ecological Relationships & Classification

1.4Digestion & Nutrition

1.5Plants & Photosynthesis

1.6Biological Systems & Processes

2Chemistry

2.1Particles

2.2Chemical Reactions

2.3Atoms, Elements, Compounds

2.4The Periodic Table

2.5Materials & the Earth

2.6Reactivity

2.7Energetics

2.8Properties of Materials

3Physics

3.1Energy

3.2Forces & Motion

3.3Waves

3.4Electricity & Magnetism

3.5Matter

3.6Space Physics

4Thinking Scientifically

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