Which phrase describes a change in size, shape, or state of matter?

• A. Physical property
• B. Conservation of mass
• C. Physical change
• D. Chemical change

Answer: (C)

A physical change describes a change in size, shape, or state of matter. In a physical change, the material’s identity and chemical composition stay the same even though its form may look different. Examples include ice melting into water, tearing paper, or crushing a can. The mass stays the same, though energy is often involved (like heat causing melting). This differs from a chemical change, where new substances with different properties form, such as burning wood turning into ash and gases. A physical property describes a characteristic of a substance (like density or melting point) rather than the change itself, so it doesn’t describe the change in size, shape, or state.