Physical and chemical phenomena

Phenomenon is the name given to any and all transformation that matter (everything that occupies space in space and has mass) can suffer, regardless of whether its composition has been altered or not.

When we take a sheet of paper and simply tear it apart, we change its shape and size, but we still have the paper. However, if this leaf is burned, we will have a change in its composition.

The paper example represents the two types of phenomena that matter can undergo. Let's understand them better!

physical phenomena

Cutting paper is an example of a physical phenomenon

They are changes suffered by matter that do not cause any change in its composition (substances that make up the material), that is, before, during and after the occurrence of a physical phenomenon, the substances that constitute the matter will be exactly the same.

→ Examples of physical phenomena

• Tomato Juice Production

• Production of gasoline from petroleum

• Conducting electrical current in a copper wire

• Decomposition of sunlight into a prism

• rain precipitation

• Dissolving powdered chocolate in milk

• Dry ice sublimation

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→ Signs that characterize a physical phenomenon

• change of physical state

• Change in shape or size

• Solubility (when one matter dissolves into another)

• Conduction of heat or electricity

chemical phenomena

Smoke production is indicative of a chemical phenomenon

These are changes suffered by matter that cause a change in its composition, that is, the substances that form the matter before the occurrence of a chemical phenomenon are different from the substances that make up matter after the phenomenon.

→ Examples of chemical phenomena

• Ethanol production from sugarcane

• Wine production from grape juice

• Transformation of wine into vinegar

• fruit rot

• Fruit ripening

• egg cooking

• Rust formation on a steel gate

• Effervescent tablet added to water

→ Signs that identify a chemical phenomenon

• Color change

• Effervescence (development of bubbles in a liquid)

• Release of energy in the form of heat or light

• Formation of a solid

• smoke production

By Me. Diogo Lopes Dias

Would you like to reference this text in a school or academic work? Look:

DAYS, Diogo Lopes. "Physical and chemical phenomena"; Brazil School. Available in: https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/quimica/fenomenos-fisicos-quimicos.htm. Accessed on June 27, 2021.