EMY Science Library Changing Matter Understanding Physical and Chemical Changes by Tracy Nelson Maurer Science Content Editor Shirley Duke Rourke Educational Media rourkeeducationalmedia com Teacher Notes available at rem4teachers com
Two Ways to Change Everything is matter It’s made of something and takes up space Matter changes in two ways physical changes and chemical changes Let’s look at the differences Physical changes create different states or forms of the same matter Water is still water if it changes from a liquid state into ice a solid state Chemical changes create entirely new substances After the chemical change physical methods such as cutting drying filtering spinning or changing temperature or pressure can’t undo the change 4
Spellbinding Alchemy Ancient scholars called alchemists believed they could change metals into gold or produce other amazing results Modern science has never proven their claims However their quests have inspired many stories including Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone Fire chemically changes wood into a new substance ash or soot and gas You can’t bring the wood back after it has burned 5
