Question

Two friends are discussing physical and chemical changes. Isabela says that when you eat, it is a physical change because when you chew, the food is only changed into smaller pieces. Mirabel says that when you eat, it is a chemical change because your body digests the food as the chemicals in your body break down the food into energy. Who is right?

Answer 1

Both are right if you separate the problem.
Isabella is correct that chewing the food is a physical change. After it is chewed and swallowed then the digestive juices start flowing and the chemical process starts so that part is a chemical change. Technically, the chemical process starts as soon as the food is chewed into smaller pieces but the major digestion starts after swallowing the food.