Class Note
Subject: Intermediate Science (Grade 7)
Topic: Changes in Matter
Duration: 45 minutes (NERDC lesson duration)
Introduction
In this lesson we study how matter can change from one form to another. Changes in matter are grouped
into two major types: physical changes and chemical changes. Understanding these helps you describe,
predict, and explain everyday phenomena such as melting ice, boiling water, burning wood, and rusting
metals. This class note explains the characteristics, examples, indicators, and simple experiments that
show these changes so you can copy them into your notebook.
1. What are Changes in Matter?
A change in matter occurs when a substance alters its physical appearance, state, composition, or
properties. Changes can be temporary or permanent. Scientists classify changes into two main categories:
Physical changes: Changes that affect only the physical properties of a substance without altering its
chemical composition.
Chemical changes: Changes that produce one or more new substances with different chemical composition
and properties.
2. Physical Changes
2.1 Definition
A physical change is a change in the form or appearance of a substance but not in its chemical identity.
After a physical change, the substance remains the same chemically even though it may look different.
2.2 Common Physical Changes
Change of state (changes in state of matter): melting, freezing, boiling, condensation, evaporation,
sublimation.
Change in shape or size: cutting, crushing, stretching.
Dissolving: salt or sugar dissolving in water.
Mixing: mixing sand and salt without chemical reaction.
2.3 Examples with Explanations
Melting: Ice (solid water) turns into liquid water when heated. Chemical composition stays H2O.
Boiling: Liquid water turns into water vapor at its boiling point. Still H2O.
Freezing: Liquid water becomes solid ice when cooled below 0°C.
Evaporation: Water on the ground slowly becomes vapor at temperatures below boiling point.
Dissolving salt in water: Salt particles separate and mix with water, but salt can be recovered by evaporating
the water.
2.4 Characteristics / Indicators of Physical Changes
No new substances are formed.
Changes are often reversible (for example, freezing and then melting).
Physical properties such as shape, size, state, texture, and colour may change.
Mass is conserved (total mass before and after change stays the same) in a closed system.
Energy may be absorbed or released (e.g., heat absorbed during melting), but this does not change
chemical composition.
2.5 Everyday Examples
Melting of ice cream on a hot day.
Boiling of water to make tea.
Stretching of rubber band.
Cutting paper into pieces.
Dissolving sugar in tea.
2.6 Short Classroom Demonstration (for notebook record)
Materials: Ice, heat source (sun or warm water), beaker or clean container.
Procedure:
Place a piece of ice in a beaker.
Observe the ice until it melts to form water.
Optionally, heat gently to speed up melting and then allow to cool to refreeze.
Observation and Conclusion:
Ice changes from solid to liquid on heating. This is a physical change because the substance remains water
(H2O). The process is reversible by cooling.
3. Changes of State (Detailed Subtopic under Physical Changes)
Matter commonly exists in three states: solid, liquid, and gas. Changes between these states are physical
changes and involve gains or losses of energy (usually heat).
Melting: Solid ’ Liquid (heat absorbed)
Example: Ice ’ Water
Freezing: Liquid ’ Solid (heat released)
Example: Water ’ Ice
Evaporation: Liquid ’ Gas (heat absorbed)
Example: Water ’ Water vapour
Boiling: Liquid ’ Gas at a specific temperature (heat absorbed)
Example: Water boils at 100°C (at standard atmospheric pressure)
Condensation: Gas ’ Liquid (heat released)
Example: Water vapour ’ Dew
Sublimation: Solid ’ Gas without passing through liquid (heat absorbed)
Example: Dry ice (solid CO2) sublimating to CO2 gas
Key point: These changes are reversible and do not change the chemical identity of the substance.
4. Chemical Changes
4.1 Definition
A chemical change (chemical reaction) is a process where one or more substances are transformed into
new substances with different chemical compositions and properties. Chemical changes involve breaking
and forming chemical bonds.
4.2 Common Chemical Changes
Burning (combustion)
Rusting (oxidation of metals)
Cooking food (proteins and starches change chemically)
Fermentation (sugars converted to alcohol or acids by microorganisms)
Tarnishing (chemical reaction on surface of metals)
Respiration (biological oxidation producing energy)
4.3 Examples with Explanations
Burning wood: Wood reacts with oxygen to form ash, carbon dioxide, water vapour, heat, and light. New
substances form, and the reaction is not easily reversible.
Rusting of iron: Iron reacts slowly with oxygen and moisture to form iron oxide (rust), which has different
properties from iron.
Baking a cake: Ingredients chemically react when heated to form new substances that cannot be separated
back into original ingredients.
Milk souring: Bacteria convert lactose into lactic acid, changing taste and composition.
4.4 Characteristics / Indicators of Chemical Changes
New substances are formed with different properties (colour, smell, taste, hardness, etc.).
The change is often irreversible by simple physical means.
Energy change: heat may be released (exothermic) or absorbed (endothermic).
Gas formation may occur (bubbles) without heating (e.g., vinegar and baking soda reaction).
Precipitate may form when two solutions react to produce an insoluble solid.
Change in temperature, light emission, or production of sound may accompany the reaction.
Mass may not seem conserved (because gases may escape), but total mass of a closed system remains
constant.
4.5 Everyday Examples
Burning charcoal on a stove.
Iron gates developing rust.
Turning milk into yoghurt or cheese.
Food digesting in the body.
Batteries producing electricity through chemical reactions.
4.6 Short Classroom Demonstration (for notebook record)
Experiment 1: Rusting of Iron Nail
Materials: Clean iron nail, water, salt, beaker, stick or string.
Procedure:
Place the nail in a beaker filled with water. Optionally add a teaspoon of salt to speed up rusting.
Leave the nail exposed to air and water for several days.
Observe the formation of reddish-brown substance on nail surface (rust).
Observation and Conclusion:
The iron nail changes chemically to form iron oxide (rust). This is a chemical change because a new
substance with different properties is formed.
Experiment 2: Burning Candle (combustion)
Materials: Candle, match or lighter, plate.
Procedure:
Light the candle flame and observe the flame, heat, and production of smoke.
Allow the candle to burn for a short time then blow it out.
Observation and Conclusion:
Wax and oxygen react to produce heat, light, carbon dioxide, and water vapour. The production of new
substances and release of energy show a chemical change.
5. Comparing Physical and Chemical Changes
To help you remember, here is how physical and chemical changes differ:
Physical change:
No new substances formed.
Usually reversible.
Only physical properties change (size, shape, state).
Examples: melting, freezing, dissolving, cutting.
Chemical change:
New substances formed.
Usually not reversible by simple physical means.
Chemical properties change.
Indicators: colour change, gas formation, precipitate formation, energy change.
Examples: burning, rusting, cooking.
6. Specific Examples Explained
6.1 Melting
Definition: Change of state from solid to liquid.
Example: Ice melting to form water.
Cause: Heat is absorbed to overcome forces holding particles in fixed positions.
Indicator: Change in state from solid to liquid without new substance forming. Temperature remains at
melting point during the change.
6.2 Boiling
Definition: Rapid change of liquid to gas when vapour pressure equals atmospheric pressure.
Example: Boiling water at 100°C (sea level).
Cause: Heating supplies energy that allows particles to break free and form gas.
Indicator: Bubbles of vapour forming throughout the liquid and rising to surface. Substance remains
chemically the same.
6.3 Burning (Combustion)
Definition: Chemical reaction between a substance (fuel) and oxygen that releases heat and light.
Example: Burning paper produces ash, smoke, heat, and light.
Cause: Chemical bonds in the fuel break and new bonds form producing new substances (CO2, H2O).
Indicator: Flames, heat, light, change in colour, ash formation, and often gas production.
6.4 Rusting
Definition: Slow chemical reaction of iron with oxygen and moisture to form iron oxide.
Example: Rusted nails and iron roofs.
Cause: Iron atoms combine with oxygen atoms in the presence of water to form iron oxide.
Indicator: Formation of reddish-brown flaky substance, weakening of metal, irreversible without chemical
treatment.
7. Why Understanding These Changes is Important
Everyday life: Explains cooking, preservation, cleaning, and safety (fire safety, preventing rust).
Industry: Metal corrosion prevention, food processing, manufacturing, chemical production.
Environment: Understanding rusting and burning helps manage resource use and pollution.
Science studies: Foundation for more advanced topics in chemistry and physics.
8. Safety and Precautions
Always perform heating and combustion demonstrations under supervision.
Keep flammable materials away from open flames.
Use protective equipment (gloves, goggles) during experiments involving chemicals.
Dispose of wastes properly and avoid inhaling smoke or fumes.
Never taste or directly smell chemicals; use wafting technique only with teacher permission.
9. Common Misconceptions
“Boiling water changes it into something else.” No — boiling only changes water from liquid to gas; it is still
H2O.
“Rusting is the same as melting.” No — rusting is a chemical change producing a new substance (iron
oxide); melting is a physical change.
“If something changes colour, it must be a chemical change.” Not always. Colour change can result from
physical mixing or dissolving. Look for other indicators like gas formation or precipitate.
“All changes are irreversible.” Some chemical changes are irreversible without further chemical reactions,
while most physical changes are reversible.
10. How to Tell If a Change is Physical or Chemical (Checklist for Your Notebook)
When you observe a change, ask:
Is a new substance formed? (Yes ’ likely chemical. No ’ likely physical.)
Is the change reversible by simple physical means? (Yes ’ physical. No ’ chemical.)
Are there signs of gas, light, heat, or precipitate formation? (Yes ’ likely chemical.)
Did the mass change significantly in an open system? (Loss of mass may indicate gas escaped in a
chemical reaction.)
Does the change involve only change of state, shape, or mixing without reaction? (Yes ’ physical.)
Write down answers and observations to decide the type of change.
11. Vocabulary (Write and Learn)
Matter: Anything that has mass and occupies space. (Previously studied)
Physical change: A change in form or appearance without changing chemical composition.
Chemical change: A change where new substances are formed.
Melting: Solid to liquid.
Freezing: Liquid to solid.
Boiling: Liquid to gas at boiling point.
Evaporation: Liquid to gas at temperatures below boiling.
Condensation: Gas to liquid.
Sublimation: Solid to gas directly.
Combustion: Rapid chemical reaction with oxygen that gives off heat and light.
Oxidation: Reaction with oxygen (e.g., rusting).
Precipitate: Insoluble solid formed from two solutions reacting.
12. Summary (Important Points to Copy)
Changes in matter are classified as physical or chemical.
Physical changes do not form new substances and are usually reversible (e.g., melting, boiling, dissolving).
Chemical changes form new substances with different properties and are often not easily reversible (e.g.,
burning, rusting, cooking).
Indicators of chemical changes include gas production, colour change, temperature change, light emission,
and precipitate formation.
Changes of state (melting, freezing, boiling, condensation, sublimation) are physical changes that involve
energy transfer.
Observe carefully and use the checklist to identify the type of change.
13. Things to Copy into Your Notebook (Organized Notes)
Title: Changes in Matter
Definition: Changes in matter are physical or chemical.
Physical Change:
Definition, examples (melting, boiling, dissolving), indicators (no new substance, reversible), experiments
(ice melting, salt dissolving).
Changes of State:
List the processes (melting, freezing, boiling, evaporation, condensation, sublimation) with brief descrip-
tions.
Chemical Change:
Definition, examples (burning, rusting, cooking), indicators (new substances, gas, precipitate, heat, light),
experiments (rusting nail, burning candle).
Comparison Table (short):
Physical change: no new substance, reversible, examples.
Chemical change: new substance, not easily reversible, examples.
Safety rules: supervised experiments, protective gear, dispose properly.
Checklist: five questions to decide physical or chemical.
14. Final Notes for Students
Learn the indicators and practise observing everyday changes.
Copy the vocabulary and summary into your notebook.
Understand that molecules remain the same in physical changes but rearrange or form new bonds in
chemical changes.
Pay attention to safety when doing experiments outside class.
End of Class Note.