Physical Changes: Crushing a Mineral and Mixing Sand and Gravel

What do these two changes have in common?

Crushing a mineral into powder and mixing sand and gravel are both physical changes.

What are physical changes?

Physical changes are changes to the properties of substances that only affect their physical properties. The chemical properties of the substances are not altered by physical changes.

Physical changes refer to alterations in the state or form of matter that do not involve a change in its chemical composition. These changes can be reversible, meaning the original substance can be recovered, or irreversible.

Examples of physical changes include changes in state (such as melting, freezing, or boiling), changes in size or shape, crushing, tearing, or mixing different substances together without creating a new chemical compound.

These changes only affect the physical properties of the substances involved, while their chemical properties remain the same. Therefore, no new substances are formed during physical changes.