Jenny takes a piece of paper and dips it in a bowl of water. The paper is now damp and mushy. Which of the following is/are true about the change that occurs when the paper gets wet?

Question

I. It is a physical change.
II. It makes a new substance.
III. It is a chemical change.

A.
I only
B.
I and II only
C.
II and III only
D.
II only

Answer 1

The correct answer is A. I only.

Here's the rationale:

I. It is a physical change. - True. When paper gets wet, it undergoes a physical change. The water saturates the paper, altering its physical state and properties (like texture and flexibility) but not its chemical composition.

II. It makes a new substance. - False. The process of wetting the paper does not result in a new substance being formed; the paper remains paper, and the water remains water.

III. It is a chemical change. - False. A chemical change involves a transformation that produces new substances. Soaking paper in water does not involve such a transformation.

Thus, only statement I is true.