Would a newspaper bleaching in the sun be a physical or chemical change?

Asked by: David

An example of a chemical change that is obviously physical is the explosion of a mixture of gasoline and oxygen in air that propels most cars. The chemical reaction releases heat that causes the gasses to expand inside the cylinder and push the piston, ultimately rotating the crankshaft and finally the tires. The initial mixture of gasoline (a hydrocarbon) and oxygen are converted by the chemical reaction into water and carbon dioxide plus a number of undesirable pollutants including carbon monoxide, oxides of nitrogen and unburned hydrocarbons.

Answered by: Scott Wilber, President, ComScire - Quantum World Corporation