Physical and Chemical Changes
Caleb Thomas
6 min read
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Study Guide Overview
This study guide covers the differences between chemical and physical changes. It explains chemical equations, including reactants and products. It details chemical changes involving intramolecular bond breaking/forming, using examples like burning and rusting. It also explains physical changes as intermolecular changes, such as phase changes, and discusses special cases like dissolving. Finally, it provides review activities, practice questions (multiple-choice and free-response), and an answer key.
#AP Chemistry Study Guide: Chemical vs. Physical Changes
Hey there, future AP Chem master! Let's break down chemical and physical changes. This is a fundamental concept, and we'll make sure you've got it down solid. Let's dive in!
#Chemical Equations: More Than Meets the Eye
Chemical equations are like recipes for reactions. They show you what goes in (reactants) and what comes out (products), but they don't show how it all happens. It's like seeing a cake but not the baking process. 🎂
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Reactants → Products
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Doesn't show the how just the what
Remember, chemical equations are all about the rearrangement of atoms and molecules. They're the starting point for understanding stoichiometry and reaction mechanisms.
#Chemical Changes: Breaking and Making Bonds
#What are Chemical Changes?
Chemical changes involve changes within molecules (intramolecular). This means the breaking and/or forming of ionic or covalent bonds. Think of it as a deep molecular makeover. 💡
#Visualizing with Lewis Dot Diagrams
Let's look at the reaction between magnesium and oxygen:
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Bonds Broken (Red): The covalent bond in Oâ‚‚ breaks.
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Bonds Formed (Green): Ionic bonds form between Mg and O in MgO.
Ionic bonds are represented with brackets and charges to show electron transfer, not lines like covalent bonds.
#Examples of Chemical Changes
- **Burning:...
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