A burnt stick undergoes a chemical change because the process of burning (combustion) transforms the material at a molecular level. When a stick is burned, it reacts with oxygen in the air, and this reaction breaks the bonds of the wood's organic molecules, resulting in the formation of new substances, including carbon dioxide, water vapor, ash, and other products.
Key characteristics of a chemical change include:
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Formation of New Substances: The combustion of the stick results in the creation of new materials that have different properties than the original wood.
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Change in Energy: Burning wood releases energy in the form of heat and light.
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Irreversibility: Once the stick is burned, you cannot return the ash and gases produced back to their original wood form.
Therefore, the burning of a stick is a classic example of a chemical change due to the transformation of substances resulting from a chemical reaction.