Chemical Change Examples

Chemical changes involve chemical reactions and the creation of new products. Typically, a chemical change is irreversible. In contrast, physical changes do not form new products and are reversible.

Common Chemical Changes

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Examples of Physical Changes and Chemical Changes

By Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D.

• The rusting of iron
• Combustion (burning) of wood
• The metabolism of food in the body
• Mixing an acid and a base, such as hydrochloric acid (HCl) and sodium hydroxide (NaOH)
• Cooking an egg
• Digesting sugar with the amylase in saliva
• Mixing baking soda and vinegar to produce carbon dioxide gas
• Baking a cake
• Electroplating a metal
• Using a chemical battery
• The explosion of fireworks
• Rotting bananas
• Grilling a hamburger
• Milk going sour

While it's not always easy to tell a chemical change has occurred (as opposed to a physical change), there are some telltale signs. Chemical changes may cause a substance to:

• Change color
• Change temperature
• Produce bubbles
• Produce precipitate (in liquids)

Chemical changes can also be considered to be any phenomenon that allows a scientist to measure chemical properties.