An example of a reversible change in matter is the freezing of water into ice.
Here's a more detailed explanation:
Reversible changes are physical changes where the substance can return to its original form after the change. No new substance is created. These changes often involve alterations in state (solid, liquid, gas).
Key Characteristics of Reversible Changes:
- No new substance formed: The chemical composition remains the same.
- Change in state or form: Typically involves changes in physical properties like shape, size, or state of matter.
- Can be reversed: The original substance can be recovered using a reverse process.
Examples of Reversible Changes (beyond freezing water):
- Melting of Wax: Solid wax melts into liquid wax when heated, and it solidifies back into solid wax when cooled.
- Boiling Water: Liquid water turns into steam (water vapor) when heated. Steam can condense back into liquid water when cooled.
- Dissolving Salt in Water: Salt dissolves in water to form a salt solution. The salt can be recovered by evaporating the water.
- Inflating a Balloon: Changing the pressure and volume of air is a reversible physical change.
Focusing on the Freezing of Water:
- Water in its liquid state transitions to its solid state (ice) upon cooling.
- The chemical formula of water remains H₂O in both states.
- Ice can be melted back into liquid water by adding heat.
Therefore, freezing water into ice perfectly illustrates a reversible change in matter because it's a change of state that doesn't alter the substance's chemical composition and can be easily reversed.
