A physical change can be reversed and only alters the shape or form of the material, while a chemical change produces new substances that cannot be reversed back to the original forms. Toasting bread and burning wood are examples of chemical changes, as the original substances cannot be recovered, while shaping clay into pots is a physical change since it remains clay just in a different shape. Determining if a change is physical or chemical is not always clear cut and may require microscopic examination in some cases.

1. Physical Change or Chemical Change? By: H. Marcum

2. What is the difference? A physical changes can be reversed. Water can change to a gas, to a solid and back to water. This is an example of physical change.

3. Physical change can change shapes A tree to a baseball bat is a physical change, because it remains wood.

4. Chemical change When wood burns it goes through a chemical change.

5. Is this a Chemical change? This is an example of a chemical change, as it would be very difficult to get back to original forms

6. What happens when bread is toasted? This is another example of a chemical change. We cannot undo the toast.

7. Is changing clay to pots a physical or chemical change? If you said physical you are correct. It is still clay, just in a different shape.

8. Some elements can be changed physically or chemically. Periodic Table

9. Is determining changes all clear cut? Not at all. Some changes are so minute we must use a microscope to determine the type of change that occurred. Others are easier to determine the type of change. A question to ask yourself is can I change it back to its original state; if not you may have a chemical change.