Lesson 6 — Irreversible Changes and New Substances 1 / 7

Last lesson, every change could be undone. Today is the opposite: changes that make a brand-new substance — and once they happen, there's no going back.

Quick recall before we meet the opposite kind of change.

How do we know a brand-new substance has formed? Scientists look for four telltale signs.

Let's test three everyday changes against our signs. Watch how each one makes something new.

ChangeSigns of new substanceCan you undo it?
Burning toastcolour change (black), smoke (gas), heatNo — you can't un-burn toast
Rusting ironnew material (orange rust), colour changeNo — rust is a new substance (iron oxide)
Cooking an eggcolour change (clear→white), new textureNo — you can't un-cook an egg

Goggles on! We'll mix bicarbonate soda with vinegar. Watch for the signs of a chemical change.

A new substance forms: GAS!
The fizzing is carbon dioxide gas — a new substance that wasn't there before.

On your own, sort these four changes into the right column — and give a reason for each.

One last idea to lock in…