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Physical and Chemical Change
Grade 5 - Science - Building Confidence
Worksheet 1
1Classify this change: a steel nail rusts.
2Which evidence supports the claim that "wood burns in a campfire" is a chemical change?
3Which observation is about new substances in this event: wood burns in a campfire?
4Which model step is most important for deciding whether baking soda and vinegar fizz is physical or chemical?
5Why is "the pieces only become smaller" not the best evidence for "baking soda and vinegar fizz"?
6Classify this change: ice melts into liquid water.
7Which evidence supports the claim that "paper is cut into small squares" is a physical change?
8Which observation is about new substances in this event: sugar dissolves in water?
9Which model step is most important for deciding whether ice melts into liquid water is physical or chemical?
10Why is "the wood only changes position" not the best evidence for "wood burns in a campfire"?
About this worksheet
Physical and chemical change questions ask students to decide whether matter only changes form or whether new substances form asks fifth graders to connect a model, data table, or observation with a scientific explanation. Students may label any dramatic event as chemical or any quiet event as physical, instead of looking for evidence such as gas, ash, rust, odor, or recoverable material. This worksheet keeps each question tied to the named science idea, so students cannot answer by eliminating vocabulary from a different unit. Students classify changes, identify evidence for new substances, compare physical changes with reactions, and reject observations that do not support the claim. Support versions use familiar examples and direct observations. Standard and challenge versions add closer distractors, multi-step evidence, and model-based reasoning. Ask your child to point to the measurement, diagram, or cause-and-effect clue before choosing. If an answer sounds scientific but does not explain the evidence in the prompt, it is probably a distractor.
What your child will learn
Classify changes
Find new-substance evidence
Compare observations
Use matter evidence
Worked example
Rusting is a chemical change because a new reddish-brown substance forms on the metal.
Common mistake
Calling a change chemical just because the object looks different.
Helpful hint
Ask whether a new substance with new properties formed.
Worksheet 1