Grade 5 · Science · Unit 7 of 12
Physical or Chemical?
Changes that make new things
What your child practises
Telling a physical change from a chemical change, spotting the signs of a new substance, and how making and throwing away everyday products affects the environment.
Ontario Curriculum expectation: C1.1, C1.2, C2.4, C2.5 · physical and chemical changes, signs of a chemical change, and the impact of making common products
Sample questions
A taste of this unit. In the app, questions change every time and get easier or harder to match your child.
Question 1
Which of these is NOT a good sign of a chemical change?
- A new colour appears
- Something gets bigger
- A new smell appears
- Heat or light is given off
Show answer
Something gets bigger
Hint: A change in size alone can happen in a physical change.
Question 2
A banana peel turns brown. What kind of change is this?
- Chemical change
- Physical change
- Change of state
Show answer
Chemical change
Hint: A colour change that you cannot undo shows a new substance.
Question 3
Sugar is stirred into tea and seems to disappear. This is a…
- physical change
- chemical change
- change of state to a gas
Show answer
physical change
Hint: The sugar is still there, and you could taste it. No new substance formed.
Question 4
Cutting paper into small pieces is a…
- change that makes a new substance
- chemical change
- physical change
Show answer
physical change
Hint: The pieces are still paper. No new substance forms.
Question 5
A factory burns fuel to make a product. What is one possible effect of this process on the environment?
- It uses no energy at all
- It can release gases that pollute the air
- It always cleans the air
Show answer
It can release gases that pollute the air
Hint: Burning fuel can release greenhouse gases and other pollutants.
Question 6
Ice is melted, then the water is boiled. Which statement is correct?
- Melting is chemical and boiling is physical
- Both are chemical changes
- Both are physical changes
Show answer
Both are physical changes
Hint: Ice, water and steam are all the same substance, so no new substance formed.