While camping, you make a snack over a campfire. You roast a marshmallow over the

campfire until it is browned and put it between some chocolate and graham crackers. When
you take a bite, you notice that the chocolate and marshmallow have melted slightly.
Which statement correctly identifies a part of this process as a physical or a chemical
change?
(1 point)
The melting of the chocolate is a chemical change.
The digesting of the food is a physical change.
The toasting of the marshmallow is a chemical change.
The burning of the wood for the campfire is a physical change.

1 answer

The correct statement is: The toasting of the marshmallow is a chemical change.

To clarify:

  • The melting of chocolate is a physical change because it changes state from solid to liquid without altering its chemical composition.
  • The digesting of food is a chemical change because it involves breaking down food into different substances.
  • The burning of wood for the campfire is a chemical change because it involves a reaction that produces new substances (ash, smoke, gases).

Thus, the toasting of the marshmallow, which involves the caramelization of sugar and other reactions that change its chemical structure, is indeed a chemical change.