Why would dissolving salt in water be considered a physical change? - ProProfs Discuss
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Why would dissolving salt in water be considered a physical change?

Asked by Haydenelizabeth, Last updated: Apr 23, 2024

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11 Answers

R. Jones

R. Jones

Curious about the World

R. Jones
R. Jones, Student, Postgraduate, Calgary

Answered Jan 28, 2021

In a solution where salt is the solute and water is the solvent, the reaction or change would be considered a physical change. This is simply because there is relatively no chemical reaction that takes place in this mixture. Another major reason why we can consider it a physical change is because the solution can still be separated again.

If the solution is taken through the evaporation process, in the presence of high temperature, the water would evaporate, leaving the salt to remain in the container. Then you can collect your salt back. Earlier, I wrote that no chemical reaction takes place in the mixture of salt and water.

In other words, there is no occurrence of a change in the electron shells of the chlorine and sodium atom. Likewise, there is no occurrence of a chemical reaction between the solute (sodium chloride) and the solvent (water).

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C. OWENS

C. OWENS

I love to do some charity work. Have a passion for writing and do it in my spare time

C. OWENS
C. OWENS, philanthropist, MD, Bristol

Answered Jan 22, 2021


Dissolving salt is a physical change because only the matter of the mixture changes. With physical changes, the change is able to be reversed. Once reversed, the solute and solvent will return back to its normal state. When it comes to a salt mixture, once settled, the solution can be taking through an evaporation process.

This process is exposing the mixture to a high temperature. After this process, the liquid evaporates in the atmosphere. From there, you will see the salt in the container. Though it is mainly known as a physical change, it can also be known as a chemical change because the chemicals in the salt solution differs from the normal salt.

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G. Woods

G. Woods

Traveler and writer by profession.

G. Woods
G. Woods, College student, Graduate, Southampton

Answered Jan 21, 2021

A physical change is a change that occurs when the substances that are combined are able to be easily separated, as their physical components do not change. When salt dissolves in water, it is considered a physical change. It is considered to be this type of change because only the matter changes.

Most physical changes are able to be reversed and you are able to separate the salt from the water. You will see the salt particles in the water. When the mixture is done, to separate it, the mixture must be settled. Then, the mixture will go through evaporation. With that process, you will be able to see the salt in the container.

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S. Barnes

S. Barnes

Driving down to Knowledge town

S. Barnes
S. Barnes, Chauffeur, Graduate, Seattle

Answered Jan 21, 2021

Physical change is a change that affects the chemical's substance form. When salt is dissolved in water, it is considered to be an example of that. The only reason for this is that the change occurs in the state of the matter.

There is no change that occurs in the matter's chemical composition. When the water is heated, it changes the salt. The salt is reversed to the solid-state water, which occurs in a gaseous state.

Another reason why salt being dissolved in water is considered a form of physical change is because it can be reversed. If it was a chemical change, it would not be able to be reversed.

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Victoria Martian

Victoria Martian

I love to share my experiences online

Victoria Martian
Victoria Martian, Blogger, B.com in Journalism, New York

Answered Jan 19, 2021

Dissolving salt in water is considered a physical change because there is only a change in the state of matter but no chemical composition change. Salt does not react with the solvent, so no chemical reaction occurs. If you remove the solvent, the original compound remains.

Dissolving salt in the water may be deemed a physical change because no change occurs in the sodium and chlorine atoms' electron shells, and no chemical reaction occurs between sodium chloride and its solvent.

On the other hand, if you dissolve salt in acetic acid, you get sodium ethanoate and hydrochloric acid. Sometimes the reason provided for saying dissolving salt is a physical change is that the process is reversible. If you remove the water, you recover the salt.

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H. Ruby

H. Ruby

H. Ruby
H. Ruby

Answered Jan 19, 2021

There are a lot of instances wherein people can get a bit confused about whether they witnessed the physical or chemical change. In the case of dissolving salt in water, this is still considered a physical change.

Although salt has dissolved in water, allowing the water to evaporate through heating the water to reach its boiling point will allow the salt to be left behind on the container which means that you can still properly separate the two components.

When this can still be done, and the salt is still intact, this is still considered a physical change. There are some people who are trying to change this though by saying that the bonds of the atoms break while they are being dissolved which can mean that this is a form of chemical change.

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O. Bickis

O. Bickis

Get immense pleasure in traveling and writing about visiting places.

O. Bickis
O. Bickis, Corporate employee, MBA, Stockton

Answered Jan 14, 2021

Dissolving salt in water is considered a physical change simply because it is only the state of matter that has been changed. Most times, physical changes can be reversed, and you would get your solute and solvent substances back.

For example, after your salt and water must have been mixed together, you can allow it to settle, then take your solution through the evaporation process. Evaporation technique is a separation process that usually involves taking (exposing) your solution through a high temperature. What happens next is that the liquid would be evaporated into the atmosphere, and you would see your solid substance in your container.

So, this same thing is applied when you take your salt and water solution through the evaporation process, you will have your salt back in a container. This mixture can also be a chemical change as well because the chemical species in the salt solution are different from those in the solid salt.

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S.Sophie

S.Sophie

S.Sophie
S.Sophie

Answered Feb 19, 2020

Dissolving salt in water is considered a physical change because there’s only a change in the state of matter but no change in the chemical composition of matter. Bear in mind that physical change is defined as a change affecting the form of a chemical substance, but not it's the chemical composition. Dissolving salt in water is a typical example of a physical change. Also, remember that physical change can be reversible, but the chemical change is irreversible.

Heating the water and allowing it to evaporate will change the salt back to its solid-state water will be in its gaseous state. Dissolving salt in water also has a chemical reaction part to it. The ionic bonds in salt are much weaker than the covalent bonds of water, so water molecules break the bond between sodium and chloride ions, and this breakdown the bond that holds them together.

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C.Charlotte

C.Charlotte

C.Charlotte
C.Charlotte

Answered Feb 05, 2020

The main reason why this is still considered as physical change is due to the fact that only the state of the matter has changed. This means that if ever there is a process that will be done like condensation to the salt solution, the water will evaporate and the salt will be left behind. This explains why this is still considered to be a physical change.

A chemical change occurs when the element will not be able to go back to its original state anymore. For example, the digestion of food is considered to be a chemical change. The nutrients from food will be absorbed by the body, and the rest of the food or the excess food will turn to waste. When the food is removed from the body, it does not resemble the food that we have eaten any more.

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D. gray

D. gray

Building buildings and building intelligence

D. gray
D. gray, Builder, Builder, Las Vegas

Answered Jul 15, 2019

Salt dissolving into water is a physical change because the chemical makeup doesn't change. Salt is a household staple, used for many purposes. One of the most common purposes is adding it to boiling water, especially when making pasta. The salt would be added to the person's taste. When salt is added, the salt dissolves. When this occurs, new bonds are formed between salt and water.

There is so much energy that the relationship between the salt molecules and the water molecules are broken. This process also occurs when sugar is added to water. However, if the ratio of the salt and water outweighs the ration to water, some will not dissolve.

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haydenelizabeth95

haydenelizabeth

haydenelizabeth95
Haydenelizabeth

Answered Mar 08, 2018

Because you arent forming a new substance
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