why is it a physical change to freeze water?

Question

the new and original substances are different
only a phase change occurs
a temperature change occurs
heat is released during the process

Answer 1

The correct reason for why freezing water is considered a physical change is:

only a phase change occurs.

In freezing, water (liquid) turns into ice (solid), but the chemical composition of the substance remains the same (H₂O). This is characteristic of a physical change, where only the state of the matter changes, rather than its chemical identity. Other options, such as the temperature change or heat release, are associated with the process but do not define it as a physical change.