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Grade 5 · Science · Unit 7 of 10

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.

Saskatchewan Curriculum outcome: MC5.2 · reversible and non-reversible changes to materials

Sample questions

A taste of this unit. In the app, questions change every time and get easier or harder to match your child.

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. 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.

  6. 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.

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