Identifying Physical and Chemical Changes: Real-World Examples

Next Generation Science

This video serves as a comprehensive visual encyclopedia of physical and chemical changes, demonstrating 16 different real-world examples without the need for voiceover narration. Through clear, high-quality close-ups, it contrasts simple physical alterations—like cutting, crushing, and mixing—with chemical reactions that produce new substances, such as burning, cooking, and fizzing. Each scene is explicitly labeled as either a "Physical Change" or "Chemical Change," allowing students to test their knowledge immediately. The content explores fundamental chemistry themes including states of matter, reversibility, and the evidence of chemical reactions. It visually highlights key indicators of chemical changes, such as the release of gas (bubbles), production of light and heat, and irreversible color changes (toasting bread, cooking an egg). Conversely, it reinforces that physical changes affect form or appearance but do not alter the chemical identity of the substance, demonstrated through dissolving, melting, and changing shape. For educators, this video is a versatile tool for both introduction and assessment. It can be used as a "silent starter" where students must predict the type of change before the label appears, or as a review station in a science rotation. The absence of narration allows teachers to pause and facilitate rich discussions about the *evidence* observed in each clip, making it adaptable for various grade levels and language learners.