Sugar is used for energy by almost all organisms on Earth. In cells, sugar combines with oxygen and forms carbon dioxide and water.

Question

When sugar combines with oxygen to form these products, is it a physical or a chemical change, and why?

Responses

a physical change, because oxygen is involved in the change
a physical change, because oxygen is involved in the change

a physical change, because the atoms that make up sugar rearrange to form the products
a physical change, because the atoms that make up sugar rearrange to form the products

a chemical change, because oxygen is involved in the change
a chemical change, because oxygen is involved in the change

a chemical change, because the atoms that make up sugar rearrange to form the products

Answer 1

The correct response is:

a chemical change, because the atoms that make up sugar rearrange to form the products.

In this process, known as cellular respiration, the sugar (glucose) and oxygen undergo a chemical reaction that rearranges the atoms, resulting in the formation of carbon dioxide and water. This change involves breaking and forming chemical bonds, which is characteristic of a chemical change.