Matter in Our Surrounding: Changes in Matter
1. Introduction
Matter is like a chameleon, constantly changing its appearance while remaining the same
at its core. From ice melting into water to wood burning into ash, these transformations
are part of everyday life. This note explores the subtopic of changes in matter from Unit 2
of the Grade 7 General Science Textbook, focusing on physical and chemical changes. By
picturing the behavior of tiny particles, we uncover how matter reshapes itself, building
a clear understanding grounded in simple, vivid ideas.
2. Subtopic: Changes in Matter
Matter can change in two fundamental ways: physical changes, which alter its form or
state without changing its identity, and chemical changes, which create entirely new sub-
stances. These changes are driven by the behavior of particles—atoms or molecules—and
the forces between them.
2.1 Physical Changes
A physical change is like rearranging furniture in a room: the items stay the same,
but their arrangement or form changes. In a physical change, the substance’s chemical
identity remains unchanged—no new substances are formed. Examples include:
• Melting: Ice turns to water at 0°C. The water molecules are the same; only their
arrangement shifts from a rigid lattice to a flowing liquid.
• Tearing: Rip a sheet of paper, and it’s still paper, just in smaller pieces.
• Dissolving: Mix sugar in water, and it disappears, but evaporate the water, and
the sugar reappears—unchanged.
Physical changes are often reversible. For instance, freeze water to make ice again, or boil
it and condense the steam back. These changes involve altering the state (solid, liquid,
gas) or shape, driven by adding or removing energy (like heat) that affects particle motion.
Imagine particles in ice vibrating slowly, then speeding up with heat to slide as a liquid.
The substance’s core identity—its chemical makeup—stays the same.
2.2 Chemical Changes
A chemical change is like baking a cake: mix flour, eggs, and sugar, heat them, and
you get a new substance with different properties. In a chemical change, the particles
rearrange to form new substances with new chemical identities. Examples include:
• Burning: Wood burns, combining with oxygen to produce ash, carbon dioxide,
and water vapor—completely new substances.
• Rusting: Iron reacts with oxygen and water, forming iron oxide (rust), a reddish,
brittle material unlike shiny iron.
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• Cooking: Heat an egg, and its proteins rearrange, turning runny liquid into a
solid, irreversible change.
Chemical changes are often irreversible because the original substances are transformed
at the molecular level. During burning, wood’s molecules break apart and recombine with
oxygen, forming new molecules. These changes involve breaking and forming chemical
bonds, which requires or releases energy, often as heat or light. In Ethiopia, think of
fermenting teff for injera: the chemical reaction produces gases and acids, giving the
bread its sour taste and bubbly texture.
2.3 Differentiation and Application
The key difference between physical and chemical changes lies in identity. Physical
changes preserve the substance: melting ice yields water, still H2 O. Chemical changes
create new substances: burning wood yields ash and gases, no longer wood. A thought
experiment clarifies this: melt butter—it’s still butter, just liquid (physical change). Cook
an egg—it becomes a new material, no longer raw (chemical change). Signs of chemical
changes include color change (e.g., rust), gas production (e.g., bubbles in fermentation),
or heat/light (e.g., fire).
These changes matter in daily life. Physical changes are practical: boiling water for coffee
(liquid to gas, then back) or shaping clay for pottery. Chemical changes power processes
like cooking (transforming raw food), burning fuel for heat, or fermenting crops for food
preservation. Understanding these changes helps us control and use matter effectively,
from crafting tools to preparing meals.
3. Conclusion
Physical and chemical changes reveal matter’s dynamic nature, driven by the dance
of particles. Physical changes rearrange particles without altering their identity, while
chemical changes create new substances through bond-breaking and forming. Picture
these processes in your mind: particles sliding in melting ice or forging new bonds in
a fire. Don’t just memorize—observe changes around you, like water freezing or food
cooking, and ask: Is this physical or chemical? Why? That curiosity, grounded in testing
simple ideas, is the essence of science.
