Reversible and irreversible changes
By the end of this chapter you will be able to
- Say which changes are reversible, such as melting and freezing, and dissolving
- Explain why a change that makes a new material is usually not reversible
- Describe what happens when an acid, such as vinegar, reacts with bicarbonate of soda
- Use evidence, such as a gas or a new colour, to decide whether a change has made a new material
- Sort changes into reversible and irreversible, and give a reason
You should already know
- Solids, liquids and gases, and changes of state in the water cycle (Year 4 Science)
- Solutions, and dissolving solids in water (Year 5 Science, Chapter 6)
Where this leads
- The Earth, Sun and Moon (Year 5 Science, Chapter 8)
- Forces, gravity and resistance (Year 5 Science, Chapter 9)
National Curriculum for England, Key Stage 2 science, Year 5. Content: M5 demonstrate that dissolving, mixing and changes of state are reversible changes, M6 explain that some changes result in the formation of new materials, and that this kind of change is not usually reversible, including burning and the action of acid on bicarbonate of soda.
Exercise P Do you remember?
Method. Think about an ice cube left out of the freezer.
- Think about the ice. Ice turns into water when it warms up.ice to water
- Name the change. The change from solid to liquid is melting.melting
- Write the answer. melting
Check. Melting is a change of state. ✓
Method. Think about water in the freezer.
- Think about water. Water turns into ice when it gets very cold.water to ice
- Name the change. The change from liquid to solid is freezing.freezing
- Write the answer. freezing
Check. Freezing is the opposite of melting. ✓
Method. Think about sugar in water.
- Think about sugar in water. Sugar disappears into water when it dissolves.disappears
- Name the change. The change in which sugar spreads into water is dissolving.dissolving
- Write the answer. dissolving
Check. Dissolving is the change of a solid into a solution. ✓
Method. Think about the chapter on solutions.
- Think about evaporation. When water evaporates, the dissolved salt is left behind.left behind
- Name the material. The material left behind is salt.salt
- Write the answer. salt
Check. Salt is recovered as crystals. ✓
Method. Think about evaporation.
- Think about the change. Water turns into water vapour, which is a gas.gas
- Decide. Changing from a liquid to a gas is a change of state, so the answer is yes.yes
- Write the answer. yes
Check. Evaporation is a change of state. ✓
Reversible changes
A reversible change is one that can be undone, so that the material can return to how it was at the start.
Three kinds of change are reversible:
- changes of state, such as melting ice into water and freezing water back into ice;
- dissolving, such as sugar dissolving in water, which can be undone by evaporating the water;
- mixing, such as sand and pebbles, which can be separated again.
| Change | Can it be reversed to the start? |
|---|---|
| ice melts into water | yes |
| water freezes into ice | yes |
| sugar dissolves in water | yes |
| salt water is left to evaporate, and the salt is recovered | yes |
| a candle burns | no |
| an egg is cooked | no |
| vinegar and bicarbonate of soda fizz together | no |
| a cake is baked | no |
Key ideas
- A reversible change can be undone, so the material can return to how it was.
- Melting and freezing are reversible changes of state.
- Dissolving is reversible, because the solid can be recovered by evaporating the water.
- Mixing is reversible, because the parts of a mixture can be separated again.
Method. Read the row for ice.
- Read the row. The row for ice melting into water says yes.yes
- Decide. So ice melting is a reversible change.yes
- Write the answer. yes
Check. Water can freeze back into ice. ✓
Method. Think about a change of state.
- Think about the reversible list. Water freezing into ice is a reversible change.freezing
- Name it. The change is freezing.freezing
- Write the answer. freezing
Check. Melting is the reverse of freezing. ✓
Method. Think about how sugar can be recovered.
- Think about the sugar. Evaporating the water leaves the sugar behind.left behind
- Decide. So dissolving is a reversible change, and the answer is yes.yes
- Write the answer. yes
Check. The sugar can be recovered from the solution. ✓
Watch out
Watch out: a reversible change may need energy or time to be undone. Water needs to be cooled to freeze, and salt needs the water to evaporate.
Try it (with your teacher). Put an ice cube in a dish, and watch it melt. Then, with your teacher, put the water in the freezer and see whether it turns back into ice. Write down which change is reversible, and which way it went.
Exam tip
Grown-up tip. Ask: “What happened to the ice? Could we make it ice again? How?” Let your child explain the change in their own words.
Exercise 7A Reversible changes
Method. Read the reversible list in section 7.1.
- Read the list. Melting and freezing are reversible changes of state.reversible changes of state
- Decide. So melting ice is a reversible change.yes
- Write the answer. yes
Check. Water freezes back into ice. ✓
Method. Read the picture in section 7.1.
- Read the picture. The arrow from water back to ice is labelled freezes.freezes
- Name the change. The change is freezing.freezing
- Write the answer. freezing
Check. Freezing is the reverse of melting. ✓
Method. Read the key ideas in section 7.1.
- Read the key idea. Dissolving is reversible, because the solid can be recovered by evaporating the water.recovered
- Decide. So the answer is yes.yes
- Write the answer. yes
Check. Evaporation gives back the sugar. ✓
Method. Read the key ideas in section 7.1.
- Read the key idea. Mixing is reversible, because the parts of a mixture can be separated again.separated again
- Decide. So the answer is yes.yes
- Write the answer. yes
Check. Sieving can separate the sand and pebbles again. ✓
Method. Count the yes rows.
- Read the column. The yes rows are ice melting, water freezing, sugar dissolving and salt recovered by evaporation.four yes
- Count them. So four changes are reversible.4
- Write the answer. 4
Check. The other four changes are not reversible. ✓
Method. Read the change column.
- Read the column. The row about salt water is salt water left to evaporate, and the salt is recovered.salt water
- Name the change. That change is reversible, so it is listed as yes.yes
- Write the answer. salt water is left to evaporate, and the salt is recovered
Check. Salt is recovered by evaporating the water. ✓
Method. Read the picture.
- Read the arrows. The arrow from ice to water is labelled melts.melts
- Name the change. So the change from ice to water is melting.melting
- Write the answer. melting
Check. Melting is a change from solid to liquid. ✓
Method. Read the reversible list in section 7.1.
- Read the list. Mixing is listed as a reversible change.reversible
- Decide. So the statement is false.false
- Write the answer. false
Check. Mixtures can usually be separated again. ✓
Method. Think about the reversible change of freezing.
- Think about freezing. Water freezes into ice when it is cold enough.freezes
- Make the prediction. So the puddle can be frozen back into ice.yes
- Write the answer. yes
Check. Test it with your teacher, and check the result. ✓
Method. Think about what can be undone.
- Think about the change. Ice melts into water, and water freezes back into ice.back into ice
- Write the reason. So the material can return to its original state.original state
- Write the answer. Accept any sentence that says the water can freeze back into ice, so the material can return to how it was.
Check. A reversible change can be undone. ✓
Method. Think about the method.
- Think about the water. Evaporating the water removes the liquid.removes the liquid
- Write the method. The sugar is left behind as crystals.left behind
- Write the answer. Accept any sentence that says you evaporate the water, and the sugar is left behind as crystals.
Check. Evaporation recovers the dissolved sugar. ✓
Changes of state and mixing
A change of state happens when a material changes between solid, liquid and gas. Melting, freezing, evaporating and condensing are changes of state.
When a solid melts, it becomes a liquid. When the liquid cools, it can freeze back into the solid. In both directions the material is still the same kind of material, so the change is reversible.
Mixing is also reversible. A mixture of sand and pebbles can be separated again, by sieving. The parts of the mixture are still the same materials after they are mixed.
Key ideas
- Melting changes a solid into a liquid.
- Freezing changes a liquid back into a solid.
- A reversible change of state can be undone, and the material returns to its start.
- Mixing is reversible, because the parts can be separated again.
Method. Think about the change of state.
- Think about the change. When the liquid cools, it can freeze back into the solid.freeze back
- Decide. So chocolate can change back, and the answer is yes.yes
- Write the answer. yes
Check. Melting and cooling are reversible changes of state. ✓
Method. Think about evaporation.
- Think about the change. Water turns into water vapour, which is a gas, by evaporation.water vapour
- Name the change. The change of state is evaporation.evaporation
- Write the answer. evaporation
Check. Evaporation can be reversed by condensing the vapour. ✓
Method. Think about mixing.
- Think about the mixture. The sand and pebbles are still the same materials after mixing.same materials
- Decide. So they can be separated again, by sieving. The answer is yes.yes
- Write the answer. yes
Check. Mixing is a reversible change. ✓
Watch out
Watch out: a change that is reversible is not always easy to reverse. Melting chocolate needs warmth, and cooling it needs a fridge. The change can still be undone.
Try it (with your teacher). Put a few small pieces of chocolate in a dish, and watch them melt in a warm place (with your teacher). Then let the dish cool, and see whether the chocolate becomes hard again. Write one sentence about whether the change is reversible.
Exam tip
Grown-up tip. Ask: “What happened when the chocolate melted? What happened when it cooled? Did it change back?” Keep the heating very gentle, with a grown-up.
Exercise 7B Changes of state and mixing
Method. Think about whether the chocolate can change back.
- Think about cooling. When the melted chocolate cools, it can become hard again.hard again
- Decide. So melting chocolate is reversible.yes
- Write the answer. yes
Check. Melting and cooling are reversible changes of state. ✓
Method. Read section 7.2.
- Read the description. When a liquid cools and becomes a solid, it is freezing.liquid to a solid
- Name the change. So the change is freezing.freezing
- Write the answer. freezing
Check. Freezing is a change from liquid to solid. ✓
Method. Read section 7.2.
- Read the description. When a solid melts, it becomes a liquid.becomes a liquid
- Fill the gap. So the missing word is liquid.liquid
- Write the answer. liquid
Check. Melting is the change from solid to liquid. ✓
Method. Read section 7.2.
- Read the description. Water turns into water vapour, a gas, by evaporation.water vapour
- Name the change. So the change is evaporation.evaporation
- Write the answer. evaporation
Check. Evaporation is a change of state. ✓
Method. Read section 7.2.
- Read the description. Mixing is reversible, because the parts can be separated again.reversible
- Decide. So the statement is false.false
- Write the answer. false
Check. Sand and pebbles can be separated by sieving. ✓
Method. Read section 7.2.
- Read the description. The parts of a mixture can be separated again.separated again
- Decide. So the answer is yes.yes
- Write the answer. yes
Check. A sieve separates the mixture. ✓
Method. Think about the chocolate.
- Think about the chocolate. Melted chocolate can cool and become hard again, the same material.same material
- Decide. So Mo is not right.no
- Write the answer. no
Check. Melting is a reversible change of state. ✓
Method. Read the arrows in the picture.
- Read the arrows. Both arrows are labelled, so the change can go both ways.both ways
- Decide. So the change from water to ice is reversible.yes
- Write the answer. yes
Check. Freezing water can melt again. ✓
Method. Think about what makes a test fair.
- Think about the test. Only the thing you change should be different between tests.only one thing
- Write one thing. The size of the ice cube, the dish and the room must stay the same.stay the same
- Write the answer. Accept any one of: the same size of ice cube, the same dish, the same room temperature.
Check. A fair test keeps everything else the same. ✓
| Trial | Minutes for the ice to melt |
|---|---|
| Trial 1 | 12 |
| Trial 2 | 14 |
| Trial 3 | 13 |
Method. Add the three trials and divide by three.
- Add the trials. The three trials add to 39 minutes.12 + 14 + 13 = 39
- Divide by three. Divide 39 by 3 to get the mean.39 divided by 3 is 13
- Write the answer. 13
Check. Check: 13 + 13 + 13 = 39. ✓
Method. Think about what melting does.
- Think about the water. The water is still water, the same material as the ice.same material
- Write the reason. So cooling it again turns it back into ice.back into ice
- Write the answer. Accept any sentence that says the water is still the same material, so it can freeze back into ice.
Check. A change of state can be reversed. ✓
Method. Think about the materials.
- Think about the materials. The sand and pebbles do not change into new materials.do not change
- Write the reason. So they can be separated again, for example by sieving.separated again
- Write the answer. Accept any sentence that says the sand and pebbles are still the same materials, so they can be separated again.
Check. A reversible change keeps the same materials. ✓
Irreversible changes and new materials
Some changes make new materials. The new materials have different properties from the original ones. These changes are usually irreversible, which means they cannot be undone.
Examples include:
- burning, such as a candle burning, which makes ash, soot and gases;
- cooking an egg, which changes the egg so that it cannot become raw again;
- baking a cake, which makes new materials that are not the same as the mixture before it was cooked.
Key ideas
- Some changes make new materials, with different properties.
- Burning makes new materials, such as ash and gases.
- Cooking an egg is a change that cannot be undone.
- New materials usually cannot be changed back to the original materials.
Method. Think about whether the wax can be recovered.
- Think about the wax. The wax is changed into new materials, such as soot and gases.new materials
- Decide. So burning is not reversible, and the answer is no.no
- Write the answer. no
Check. New materials cannot easily be changed back. ✓
Method. Think about the change.
- Think about the egg. Cooking changes the egg, so it cannot become raw again.cannot become raw
- Decide. So the answer is no.no
- Write the answer. no
Check. Cooking is an irreversible change. ✓
Method. Read the picture and the story.
- Read the story. Ruby sees black soot on the glass after the candle has burned.black soot
- Name the material. The new material is soot.soot
- Write the answer. soot
Check. Soot is a new material made in burning. ✓
Watch out
Watch out: a change that makes a new material is usually irreversible, even if it looks like a small change. Do not say that burning or cooking can be undone.
Try it (with your teacher). Look at a cooked food and a raw food, with your teacher. Describe the colour, smell and texture of each. Then write whether the change from raw to cooked can be undone. Burning is never done by pupils. Watch any burning only as a demonstration, from a safe distance.
Exam tip
Grown-up tip. Ask: “Can the egg be raw again? Why not?” Keep this at a calm and factual level, and avoid any unsafe demonstration at home.
Exercise 7C Irreversible changes and new materials
Method. Read section 7.3.
- Read the description. Burning makes new materials, which cannot easily be changed back.new materials
- Decide. So the answer is no.no
- Write the answer. no
Check. Burning is an irreversible change. ✓
Method. Read section 7.3.
- Read the description. Cooking changes the egg so that it cannot become raw again.cannot become raw
- Decide. So the answer is no.no
- Write the answer. no
Check. The cooked egg cannot be undone. ✓
Method. Read the story in section 7.3.
- Read the story. There is black soot on the glass after the candle has burned.black soot
- Name the material. The new material is soot.soot
- Write the answer. soot
Check. Soot is made when a candle burns. ✓
Method. Read the key ideas in section 7.3.
- Read the key idea. Changes that make new materials are usually irreversible.usually irreversible
- Fill the gap. So the missing word is irreversible.irreversible
- Write the answer. irreversible
Check. Irreversible means it cannot be undone. ✓
Method. Read the key ideas in section 7.3.
- Read the key idea. A change that cannot be undone is irreversible.cannot be undone
- Fill the gap. So the missing word is irreversible.irreversible
- Write the answer. irreversible
Check. Irreversible changes cannot easily be reversed. ✓
Method. Read section 7.3.
- Read the description. Cooking an egg is an irreversible change.irreversible
- Decide. So the statement is false.false
- Write the answer. false
Check. A cooked egg cannot become raw again. ✓
Method. Read the picture.
- Read the picture. The picture has one arrow, from raw egg to cooked egg.one arrow
- Count the arrows back. There are no arrows from the cooked egg back to the raw egg.0
- Write the answer. 0
Check. No arrow goes back, so the change cannot be undone. ✓
Method. Read the list in section 7.3.
- Read the list. Burning makes ash, soot and gases.ash
- Name the change. So the change is burning.burning
- Write the answer. burning
Check. Burning is a change that makes new materials. ✓
Method. Read the list in section 7.3.
- Read the list. Baking a cake makes new materials that are not the same as the mixture.new materials
- Decide. So baking is not reversible, and the answer is no.no
- Write the answer. no
Check. A baked cake cannot be turned back into a mixture. ✓
Method. Read the story in section 7.3.
- Read the story. Black soot is left on the glass.black soot
- Name it. The new material is soot.soot
- Write the answer. soot
Check. Soot is a new material, made by burning. ✓
Method. Think about what burning does to the wax.
- Think about the wax. Burning changes the wax into new materials.new materials
- Write the reason. So the wax cannot easily be changed back.changed back
- Write the answer. Accept any sentence that says burning makes new materials, so the wax has changed and cannot be easily changed back.
Check. New materials are not usually reversible. ✓
Method. Think about the egg after cooking.
- Think about the egg. Cooking changes the egg.changes the egg
- Write the reason. So it cannot be undone, and it cannot become raw again.cannot be undone
- Write the answer. Accept any sentence that says cooking makes new materials in the egg, so the egg cannot become raw again.
Check. Cooking changes the material in a way that cannot be undone. ✓
Acid and bicarbonate of soda
Vinegar is an acid. When an acid is mixed with bicarbonate of soda, the two materials react together. The reaction makes new materials, including a gas called carbon dioxide. The bubbles and the fizzing are the gas escaping.
This is an irreversible change. The bicarbonate of soda and the vinegar cannot be recovered from the new materials.
In a fair test, three equal amounts of bicarbonate of soda were added to vinegar, and the bubbles were counted in 30 seconds.
| Trial | Bubbles counted in 30 seconds |
|---|---|
| Trial 1 | 14 |
| Trial 2 | 16 |
| Trial 3 | 15 |
Key ideas
- An acid reacts with bicarbonate of soda to make new materials.
- The reaction makes a gas, carbon dioxide, which makes the bubbles and the fizzing.
- This change is irreversible, because new materials are made.
- Evidence of a new material includes a gas, a new colour, or a new smell.
Method. Think about what kind of material vinegar is.
- Think about vinegar. Vinegar is an acid, and it reacts with bicarbonate of soda.acid
- Choose the word. So the word is acid, which describes the vinegar.acid
- Write the answer. acid
Check. Vinegar is an acid. ✓
Method. Read the table.
- Read the row for trial 2. The count for trial 2 is 16 bubbles.trial 2
- Write the number. So there were 16 bubbles in trial 2.16
- Write the answer. 16
Check. Trial 2 was the largest count. ✓
Method. Think about the new materials.
- Think about the new materials. The reaction makes new materials, including a gas.new materials
- Decide. So the change cannot easily be undone, and the answer is no.no
- Write the answer. no
Check. New materials are made, so the change is irreversible. ✓
Watch out
Watch out: the bubbles are a gas. They are not the bicarbonate of soda coming back out of the cup, and the change cannot be undone.
Try it (with your teacher). With your teacher, put a spoonful of bicarbonate of soda into a clean cup. Add a small amount of vinegar, and watch the fizz. Count the bubbles for 30 seconds. Repeat the test two more times, using the same amounts each time, and find the mean. Do not taste anything, and wash your hands afterwards.
Exam tip
Grown-up tip. Ask: “What is the gas? Could the vinegar and bicarbonate of soda be recovered from the fizzing mixture?” Keep the amounts small and the test fair.
Exercise 7D Acid and bicarbonate of soda
Method. Read section 7.4.
- Read the description. Vinegar is an acid.acid
- Decide. So the answer is yes.yes
- Write the answer. yes
Check. Acids react with bicarbonate of soda. ✓
Method. Read section 7.4.
- Read the description. The reaction makes a gas called carbon dioxide.carbon dioxide
- Name the gas. So the gas is carbon dioxide.carbon dioxide
- Write the answer. carbon dioxide
Check. The bubbles are the gas escaping. ✓
Method. Read section 7.4.
- Read the description. The bubbles and fizzing are the gas escaping.gas escaping
- Name it. So the bubbles show a gas.gas
- Write the answer. gas
Check. The gas is carbon dioxide. ✓
| Trial | Bubbles counted in 30 seconds |
|---|---|
| Trial 1 | 14 |
| Trial 2 | 16 |
| Trial 3 | 15 |
Method. Read the row for trial 1.
- Read the row. The count for trial 1 is 14 bubbles.trial 1
- Write the number. So there were 14 bubbles in trial 1.14
- Write the answer. 14
Check. The count was 14 in 30 seconds. ✓
| Trial | Bubbles counted in 30 seconds |
|---|---|
| Trial 1 | 14 |
| Trial 2 | 16 |
| Trial 3 | 15 |
Method. Add the three trials, then divide by three.
- Add the trials. The three counts add to 45 bubbles.14 + 16 + 15 = 45
- Divide by three. Divide 45 by 3 to get the mean.45 divided by 3 is 15
- Write the answer. 15
Check. Check: 15 + 15 + 15 = 45. ✓
| Trial | Bubbles counted in 30 seconds |
|---|---|
| Trial 1 | 14 |
| Trial 2 | 16 |
| Trial 3 | 15 |
Method. Find the largest count.
- Find the largest. The largest count is 16 bubbles.16
- Name the trial. That count is for trial 2.Trial 2
- Write the answer. Trial 2
Check. Trial 2 had 16 bubbles. ✓
| Trial | Bubbles counted in 30 seconds |
|---|---|
| Trial 1 | 14 |
| Trial 2 | 16 |
| Trial 3 | 15 |
Method. Subtract the trial 1 count from the trial 2 count.
- Read the counts. Trial 2 had 16 bubbles, and trial 1 had 14 bubbles.16 and 14
- Subtract. The difference is 16 minus 14, which is 2.16 - 14 = 2
- Write the answer. 2
Check. Check: 14 + 2 = 16. ✓
Method. Read section 7.4.
- Read the description. The reaction makes new materials, so it cannot easily be undone.new materials
- Decide. So the answer is no.no
- Write the answer. no
Check. New materials are formed. ✓
Method. Think about what you can see.
- Think about the test. The bubbles and fizzing show a gas is made.gas
- Write one word. One piece of evidence is the gas, or the bubbles.bubbles
- Write the answer. Accept any one of: gas, bubbles, fizzing.
Check. A gas being made is evidence of a new material. ✓
Method. Think about the new materials.
- Think about the mixture. The reaction makes new materials, including a gas.new materials
- Write the reason. So the original materials are not recovered.not recovered
- Write the answer. Accept any sentence that says new materials and a gas are made, so the original materials cannot easily be recovered.
Check. An irreversible change makes new materials. ✓
Method. Think about the bubbles.
- Think about the bubbles. The bubbles are carbon dioxide gas.carbon dioxide
- Write the reason. A new gas is a new material, made by the reaction.new material
- Write the answer. Accept any sentence that says the bubbles are a gas, which is a new material made by the reaction.
Check. A gas is a new material. ✓
Deciding whether a change is reversible
To decide whether a change is reversible, ask two questions:
- Has a new material been made? Look for evidence, such as a new colour, a gas, a new smell, or a material that does not go back.
- Can the change be undone, so that the material returns to how it was at the start?
If a new material has been made, the change is usually irreversible. If it can be undone, the change is reversible.
| Evidence | What you would see |
|---|---|
| a new colour | the mixture changes to a different colour |
| a gas | bubbles form, or the mixture fizzes |
| a new smell | a new smell is produced |
| it cannot be undone | the original materials cannot be recovered |
| Change | Can it be reversed to the start? |
|---|---|
| ice melts into water | yes |
| water freezes into ice | yes |
| sugar dissolves in water | yes |
| salt water is left to evaporate, and the salt is recovered | yes |
| a candle burns | no |
| an egg is cooked | no |
| vinegar and bicarbonate of soda fizz together | no |
| a cake is baked | no |
Key ideas
- Look for evidence of a new material: a new colour, a gas, a new smell, or a change that cannot be undone.
- If a new material is made, the change is usually irreversible.
- If the material can be returned to how it was, the change is reversible.
- Melting, freezing, dissolving and mixing are reversible changes.
Method. Find the row for the candle.
- Find the row. The row for the candle burning says no.no
- Decide. So a candle burning is not reversible.no
- Write the answer. no
Check. Burning makes new materials. ✓
Method. Find the row about a gas.
- Find the row. The row for a gas says bubbles form, or the mixture fizzes.bubbles
- Name the evidence. So the evidence is a gas, which shows bubbles or fizzing.a gas
- Write the answer. a gas
Check. Fizzing shows that a gas is escaping. ✓
Method. Think about whether a new material is made.
- Think about the ice. Ice melts into water, which is the same material.same material
- Decide. So no new material is made, and the answer is no.no
- Write the answer. no
Check. Melting is a reversible change of state. ✓
Watch out
Watch out: a change that cannot be undone is not always a new material. Look at the evidence before you decide. Ask whether a new material has been made.
Try it (with your teacher). With your teacher, look at four changes at home or school, such as an ice cube melting, a biscuit baking, a lump of sugar dissolving, and a piece of paper torn up. For each, write whether it is reversible, and one piece of evidence that supports your answer.
Exam tip
Grown-up tip. Ask: “Can you undo it? Has something new been made?” Let your child sort changes into two groups and explain each choice.
Exercise 7E Deciding whether a change is reversible
Method. Find the salt row.
- Find the row. The salt water row says yes.yes
- Decide. So the change is reversible.yes
- Write the answer. yes
Check. Evaporation gives back the salt. ✓
Method. Find the egg row.
- Find the row. The egg row says no.no
- Decide. So cooking an egg is not reversible.no
- Write the answer. no
Check. A cooked egg cannot become raw again. ✓
Method. Count the no rows.
- Count the no rows. The no rows are burning, cooking, fizzing and baking.four no rows
- Write the number. So four changes are irreversible.4
- Write the answer. 4
Check. The other four are reversible. ✓
Method. Read the evidence table.
- Read the table. The row that says it cannot be undone describes the original materials not being recovered.cannot be undone
- Name the evidence. So the evidence is that it cannot be undone.it cannot be undone
- Write the answer. it cannot be undone
Check. Irreversible changes cannot be undone. ✓
Method. Read the first row of the evidence table.
- Read the row. The first row says a new colour.new colour
- Choose the word. So the word is colour.colour
- Write the answer. colour
Check. A new colour is evidence of a new material. ✓
Method. Read the key ideas in section 7.5.
- Read the key idea. If a new material is made, the change is usually irreversible.usually irreversible
- Fill the gap. So the missing word is irreversible.irreversible
- Write the answer. irreversible
Check. New materials cannot usually be changed back. ✓
Method. Read the change table.
- Read the row. The sugar dissolving row says yes.yes
- Decide. So dissolving is reversible.yes
- Write the answer. yes
Check. The sugar can be recovered by evaporation. ✓
Method. Look at the change table.
- Read the row. The row for vinegar and bicarbonate of soda says no.no
- Decide. Fizzing makes a gas and new materials, so Ali is not right.not right
- Write the answer. no
Check. The fizzing is evidence of a new material. ✓
Method. Look at the change table.
- Read the row. The cake row says no, so baking is not reversible.no
- Decide. So Mo is not right.no
- Write the answer. no
Check. Baking makes new materials. ✓
Method. Think about evaporation.
- Think about the sugar. Evaporating the water leaves the sugar behind.left behind
- Make the prediction. So the sugar can be recovered, and the answer is yes.yes
- Write the answer. yes
Check. Test it with your teacher, and compare the result. ✓
Method. Think about the two questions.
- Think about the material. Has a new material been made?new material
- Think about the undoing. Can the change be undone?undone
- Write the answer. Accept any sentence that says you look for a new material, such as a gas or a new colour, and ask whether the change can be undone.
Check. Two questions decide it. ✓
Method. Think about the materials after each change.
- Think about the ice. Melted ice is still water, the same material.same material
- Think about the wood. Burning wood makes new materials, which cannot easily be changed back.new materials
- Write the answer. Accept any sentence that says melting ice makes the same material, which can freeze back, but burning wood makes new materials that cannot easily be changed back.
Check. The evidence of a new material decides it. ✓
Chapter summary
| Skill | Method |
|---|---|
| Reversible changes | Melting and freezing, dissolving (with evaporation) and mixing can be undone, and the material returns. |
| Irreversible changes | Changes that make new materials, such as burning and cooking, are usually not reversible. |
| Acid and bicarbonate of soda | An acid, such as vinegar, reacts with bicarbonate of soda to make new materials and carbon dioxide gas. |
| Evidence | A new colour, a gas, a new smell, or a change that cannot be undone shows a new material has been made. |
| Deciding | Ask whether a new material has been made, and whether the change can be undone. |
Can you…?
- I can say which changes are reversible, such as melting, freezing and dissolving
- I can explain why a change that makes a new material is usually not reversible
- I can describe what happens when an acid reacts with bicarbonate of soda
- I can use evidence to decide whether a change has made a new material
- I can sort changes into reversible and irreversible, and give a reason
Key terms
- reversible change
- a change that can be undone, so that the material returns to how it was
- irreversible change
- a change that cannot easily be undone, usually because a new material is made
- change of state
- a change between solid, liquid and gas, such as melting or freezing
- new material
- a material with different properties, made by a change that cannot easily be undone
- acid
- a substance such as vinegar that reacts with bicarbonate of soda
- bicarbonate of soda
- a white powder that reacts with an acid to make carbon dioxide gas
- carbon dioxide
- a gas that makes bubbles and fizzing when an acid reacts with bicarbonate of soda
- evidence
- something you can see or measure that shows whether a change has happened
Exercise 7Z Check-up
Method. Read the reversible list.
- Read the list. Melting and freezing are reversible changes of state.reversible changes of state
- Decide. So the answer is yes.yes
- Write the answer. yes
Check. Water freezes back into ice. ✓
Method. Read section 7.3.
- Read the description. Burning makes new materials, which cannot easily be changed back.new materials
- Decide. So the answer is no.no
- Write the answer. no
Check. Burning is irreversible. ✓
Method. Read section 7.4.
- Read the description. The reaction makes carbon dioxide gas.carbon dioxide
- Name the gas. So the gas is carbon dioxide.carbon dioxide
- Write the answer. carbon dioxide
Check. The bubbles are the gas escaping. ✓
Method. Read section 7.2.
- Read the description. When a solid melts, it becomes a liquid.becomes a liquid
- Fill the gap. So the missing word is liquid.liquid
- Write the answer. liquid
Check. Melting is a change of state. ✓
Method. Read section 7.1.
- Read the description. Dissolving is reversible, because the solid can be recovered by evaporating the water.recovered
- Decide. So the answer is yes.yes
- Write the answer. yes
Check. Evaporation gives back the sugar. ✓
| Trial | Bubbles counted in 30 seconds |
|---|---|
| Trial 1 | 14 |
| Trial 2 | 16 |
| Trial 3 | 15 |
Method. Add the three trials, then divide by three.
- Add the trials. The three counts add to 45.14 + 16 + 15 = 45
- Divide by three. Divide 45 by 3 to get 15.45 divided by 3 is 15
- Write the answer. 15
Check. Check: 15 + 15 + 15 = 45. ✓
Method. Read the arrows in the picture.
- Read the arrows. There is only one arrow, from raw to cooked.one arrow
- Decide. So the picture does not show a change back to raw, and the answer is no.no
- Write the answer. no
Check. The cooked egg cannot be undone. ✓
Method. Read the story in section 7.3.
- Read the story. Black soot is left on the glass.black soot
- Name it. The new material is soot.soot
- Write the answer. soot
Check. Soot is a new material made by burning. ✓
Method. Read section 7.2.
- Read the description. Mixing is reversible, because the parts can be separated again.separated again
- Decide. So the statement is false.false
- Write the answer. false
Check. Sieving separates the mixture. ✓
Method. Think about the new materials.
- Think about the wood. Burning changes the wood into new materials.new materials
- Write the reason. So the wood cannot easily be changed back.changed back
- Write the answer. Accept any sentence that says burning makes new materials, which cannot easily be changed back.
Check. New materials are not usually reversible. ✓
Total 19 marks. Allow about 19 minutes.
Exercise 7X Practice test questions
Method. Think about ice.
- Think about ice. Ice turns into water, a liquid, when it melts.turns into water
- Name it. The word is melting.melting
- Write the answer. melting
Check. Melting is a reversible change of state. ✓
Method. Think about how the salt can be recovered.
- Think about the salt. Evaporating the water leaves the salt behind.left behind
- Decide. So the change is reversible.yes
- Write the answer. yes
Check. The salt can be recovered. ✓
Method. Read section 7.3.
- Read the description. Cooking changes the egg, so it cannot become raw again.cannot become raw
- Decide. So the answer is no.no
- Write the answer. no
Check. Cooking makes new materials. ✓
Method. Read section 7.4.
- Read the description. The reaction makes a gas called carbon dioxide.carbon dioxide
- Name the gas. So the gas is carbon dioxide.carbon dioxide
- Write the answer. carbon dioxide
Check. The fizzing is the gas escaping. ✓
| Trial | Bubbles counted in 30 seconds |
|---|---|
| Trial 1 | 14 |
| Trial 2 | 16 |
| Trial 3 | 15 |
Method. Add the three trials, then divide by three.
- Add the trials. The three counts add to 45.14 + 16 + 15 = 45
- Divide by three. Divide 45 by 3 to get 15.45 divided by 3 is 15
- Write the answer. 15
Check. Check: 15 + 15 + 15 = 45. ✓
| Trial | Minutes for the ice to melt |
|---|---|
| Trial 1 | 12 |
| Trial 2 | 14 |
| Trial 3 | 13 |
Method. Add the three trials, then divide by three.
- Add the trials. The three trials add to 39 minutes.12 + 14 + 13 = 39
- Divide by three. Divide 39 by 3 to get 13.39 divided by 3 is 13
- Write the answer. 13
Check. Check: 13 + 13 + 13 = 39. ✓
Method. Read section 7.3.
- Read the list. Burning makes new materials, which cannot easily be changed back.new materials
- Name it. So the answer is burning.burning
- Write the answer. burning
Check. Dissolving, melting and freezing are reversible. ✓
Method. Think about the evidence.
- Think about the candle. Burning makes new materials, such as soot and gases.soot and gases
- Give the reason. The wax cannot easily be recovered, so the change is not reversible.not reversible
- Write the answer. Accept any sentence that says burning makes new materials, such as soot or gases, which cannot easily be changed back.
Check. Soot is evidence of a new material. ✓
Method. Think about the reaction and its evidence.
- Think about the reaction. The reaction makes new materials, including carbon dioxide gas.new materials
- Give the evidence. The bubbles and fizzing are the evidence of the gas, so the change is irreversible.bubbles
- Write the answer. Accept any two sentences that say new materials and a gas are made, so the original materials cannot easily be recovered; the evidence is the fizzing or bubbles.
Check. New materials cannot easily be changed back. ✓
Method. Think about the material.
- Think about the water. The melted water is still the same material as the ice.same material
- Give the reason. So no new material is made, and the change is reversible.reversible
- Write the answer. no. Accept any sentence that says the water is still the same material, so the change is reversible and no new material is made.
Check. Melting and freezing are reversible changes of state. ✓