Salt dissolving in boiling water in water is physical and chemical change

Answer 1

The process of salt dissolving in boiling water is primarily considered a physical change. Here's why:

1. Reversibility: When salt (sodium chloride) dissolves in water, it breaks into its constituent ions (sodium ions and chloride ions), but these ions can recombine to form solid salt again if the water is evaporated. This reversibility is characteristic of physical changes.

2. No New Substances Formed: In a physical change, the chemical composition of the substances involved does not change. In this case, salt remains as sodium chloride (NaCl) before and after dissolving; it does not undergo any chemical transformation.

3. Phase Change: The process involves a phase change from solid (salt) to dissolved ions in solution, which is another hallmark of a physical change.

In conclusion, when salt dissolves in boiling water, it does not constitute a chemical change since no new substances are formed and the process is reversible.