Changes in Matter

Chemical Changes in Matter

Did you ever make a "volcano," like the one in Figure below, using baking soda and vinegar? What happens when the two substances combine? They produce an eruption of foamy bubbles. This happens because of a chemical change. A chemical change occurs when matter changes chemically into an entirely different substance with different chemical properties. When vinegar and baking soda combine, they form carbon dioxide, a gas that causes the bubbles. It’s the same gas that gives soft drinks their fizz.

This girl is pouring vinegar on baking soda. This causes a bubbling "volcano."

Not all chemical changes are as dramatic as this "volcano." Some are slower and less obvious. Figure below and the video below show other examples of chemical changes.

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These chemical changes all result in the formation of new substances with different chemical properties. Do you think any of these changes could be undone?