6

Changes Around Us
NCF Competencies Covered:
Expected Learning Outcomes C-1.1 and C-1.2

Knowledge to be gained: •Slow and fast changes •Desirable and undesirable changes •Periodic
and non-periodic changes •Reversible and irreversible changes •Physical and chemical changes
Skill to be developed: •Categorisation of various changes on the basis of observable features.
Attitude to be inculcated: •Change is constant and inevitable.

Everyday, we observe many changes around u A pencil becomes smaller when it wears
us, like the growing of a baby into an adult, out.
the growing of a seed into a sapling and a u e length of the shadow changes during
sapling into a plant. the day. It is long in the morning and
We also observe changes like the formation of evening, but small at noon.
curd from milk, ripe mangoes from raw u Ice melts into water.
mangoes, etc. Change is the only permanent u Fruits change colour when they are ripe.
thing in our life. Change is inevitable. A change cannot occur on its own; there
Some other examples of change are as follows: must be some cause which brings about the
u Iron objects lying in a damp place get change. For example, iron gets rusted in a
rusted. damp place. If it is placed in dry air, it does
u Milk kept overnight in a warm place gets not rust. us, the moist air is the cause of the
sour (curdling of milk). rusting of iron.

Changes Around Us 73
Some changes are helpful to us, whereas CLASSIFICATION OF CHANGES
some are non-bene cial. For example, the All the changes that occur around us are not
ripening of fruit is a bene cial change; on the of the same type. ey can be classi ed as
other hand, the spoiling of milk and rusting follows:
of iron are harmful changes. We try to slow
u Slow and fast changes.
down harmful changes by using various
u Desirable and undesirable changes.
methods like storing milk in a refrigerator
and painting objects made of iron, to prevent u Periodic and non-periodic changes.
them from rusting. u Reversible and irreversible changes.
When one or more properties of a thing u Physical and chemical changes.
become different, we say that the thing has SLOW AND FAST CHANGES
changed. e properties of a thing that may
Do all the changes take the same amount of
change are:
time? You must have observed that different
Shape: You can change the shape of a our changes take different amounts of time to
dough or a balloon by squeezing it. occur. Some changes occur so fast that they
Size: A sapling increases in size to become a appear to be instant. ey take only a
plant. fraction of a second or occur within a few
Colour: Fruits change colour when they seconds. Such changes are known as fast
ripen. Rusting causes a change in the colour of changes. For example:
iron. 1. Bursting of a balloon.
Position: e Sun changes its position in the
2. Lighting of an electric bulb.
sky during the day.
3. Bursting of a re cracker.
State: Ice (solid) melts into water (liquid)
indicating the change in state. 4. Burning of a paper.
Internal structure: When we cook food, the e changes which take place instantaneously,
internal structure of the food changes. or within a few seconds, are known as fast
changes.
Note: On the other hand, there are some changes
e bursting of a
balloon results in a which occur very slowly. ey may take
change of its shape hours, days, months and even years to occur.
and size. Such changes are known as slow changes.
Similarly, every change
occurs along with the For example:
change in one or more 1. Conversion of milk into curd.
properties of the object. 2. Germination of seeds.

74 Exploring Science-6
3. Growth of a plant. 1. Occurrence of day and night.
4. Rusting of iron nails. 2. The change of seasons.
5. Weathering of rocks. 3. High and low tides in the sea.
6. Changing of seasons. 4. The phases of the Moon.
e changes which take a long time to 5. The motion of a swing.
occur are known as slow changes. e changes that do not repeat themselves
DESIRABLE AND UNDESIRABLE at regular intervals of time are known as
CHANGES non-periodic changes. For example:
e changes which are useful for us are 1. The appearance of a shooting star in the
known as desirable changes. For example: sky.
1. Formation of manure from cow dung 2. Occurrence of natural disasters such as
and dead plants. earthquakes, eruption of volcanoes,
2. Formation of curd from milk. landslides, cyclones, etc.
3. Burning of coal at thermal power plants 3. Rusting of an iron nail.
to produce electricity. 4. Growth of a plant, falling of leaves, etc.
4. Preparation of food by plants, using REVERSIBLE AND IRREVERSIBLE
water, carbon dioxide and sunlight. CHANGES
5. Burning of fuels (wood, coal, etc.) to A change which can be reversed to the
produce heat and electricity. prior form or status of a substance is called
e changes which are harmful to us a reversible change. For example:
are known as undesirable changes. For 1. When ice is heated, it melts and changes
example: into water. If this water is kept in the
1. Breaking of a glass tumbler. freezer, it changes back into ice. us, the
2. Pollution caused by burning fuels (wood, change from ice to water has been
coal, etc.). reversed.
3. Burning of a building. 2. Stretching of a rubber band, melting of
4. Destruction caused by oods, landslides, wax, drying of clothes, etc., are some
earthquakes, eruption of volcanoes, etc. other examples of changes which can be
5. Spoiling of food. reversed.
PERIODIC AND NON-PERIODIC 3. When we touch the leaves of a touch-me-
CHANGES not plant, they fold. But they open out
e changes that occur again and again, again aer some time.
aer a xed interval of time, are known as 4. When a weight is suspended from a
periodic changes. For example: spring, the length of the spring increases.

Changes Around Us 75
 But the moment the weight is removed,
the spring returns to its original length.
A change which cannot be reversed to form
the original substance is known as an
irreversible change. For example:
1. In a our mill, the wheat grains are
changed into our, but the our cannot
be converted back into grains.
2. A child grows and becomes a young man
Fig.1 Steam can be converted back into water
who becomes old aer ageing. But the old
man cannot become young again.
3. When a piece of coal is burnt, it changes Melting Warming Water
Vapour
into smoke and ash. e piece of coal Ice Evaporating
cannot be obtained back from smoke and
ash. Freezing Cooling Condensing
4. Milk can be changed into curd, but curd
Fig.2 Interconversion of matter
cannot be changed back into milk.
e type of change we observed in Activity-1
Activity-1 can be reversed and is called a reversible
change. In a reversible change, no new
Take out a few ice cubes from the substance is formed, and we can get back
refrigerator and put them in a kettle. Aer the original substance.
some time, they melt into water. Now, heat In most reversible changes, the internal
the kettle on a gas burner. Aer a few structure of the substances involved does not
minutes, the water begins to boil and change. e molecules that make up the
changes into steam. If you cover the steam substance do not change. On the other hand,
with a lid with some ice cubes on top, the
if you burn a piece of paper, you will get ash.
is ash cannot be changed back into paper.
steam will collide with the lid and change
Similarly, once food is cooked, it cannot be
back into water. e ice on the lid cools the
changed back to the raw materials from
steam quickly and changes it back to water.
which it was made. ese are irreversible
Further, if you cool this water to room changes in most irreversible changes, there is
temperature and keep it back in the a change in the internal structure of the
refrigerator, it will change into ice again. substance. A new substance with entirely
new properties is formed.
76 Exploring Science-6
Checkpoint-1
Write True or False
1. e weathering of rocks is an example of slow change. ___________
2. Spoiling of foodstuff is an example of desirable change. ___________
3. High and Low tides in the sea are examples of periodic changes. ___________
4. e bursting of a balloon affects the shape of the balloon, but not its size. ___________

PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL For example, when a piece of iron is heated, it

CHANGES expands, and when it cools, it contracts.
Physical Changes Characteristics of a Physical Change
A change in which the shape, size, e following are the characteristics of a
appearance or state of the substance physical change:
becomes different is called a physical 1. A physical change is a temporary change
change. In this change, no new substance is and is generally reversible.
formed. A physical change is usually 2. In a physical change, no new substance is
reversible and temporary. formed and the chemical composition of
Consider the following changes: the substance remains the same.
u When we freeze water, it changes into 3. Physical changes involve energy changes,
ice. Here, the physical state of liquid but they are generally very small.
water changes into solid ice but no new 4. ere is no change in the mass of the
substance is formed. substance during a physical change.
u When we stretch a rubber band, its
Chemical Changes
shape changes. Here also, no new
A chemical change is a permanent change
substance is formed.
in which the composition of the substance
u When we in ate a balloon, its size
changes, giving rise to one or more new
changes, but no new substance is formed.
substances with different properties.
Similarly, the dissolving of salt or sugar in
Consider the following changes:
water, folding of paper, evaporation of water,
melting of butter, etc., are some more 1. Burning of fuels
examples of physical changes. Coal burns to produce ash and smoke.
Expansion of an object by heating it or Entirely new substances are formed
contraction of an object by cooling it are also whose properties are quite different from
examples of physical and reversible changes. those of coal.

Changes Around Us 77
2. Rusting of iron Comparison of Physical and Chemical
When iron rusts, its surface is covered Changes
with a brown layer. e brown layer is Physical Change Chemical Change
formed due to the formation of a No new substance One or more new
compound called hydrated ferric oxide. is formed. e substances are
Iron cannot be easily recovered from the composition of the always formed.
rust. original substance e composition
does not change. of the original
3. Curdling of milk
substance changes.
e change of milk into curd is a chemical e change is e change is
change. e curd cannot be converted temporary and can permanent and
back into milk. be easily reversed. cannot be easily
4. Cooking of food reversed.
ere is no change e mass of the
Cooked food cannot be converted back
in the mass of the substance under-
into raw food.
substance under- going the change
5. Digestion of food. going the change. either decreases or
6. Ripening of fruits. increases.
7. Germination of seeds.
8. Blackening of silverware.
9. Decaying of dead plants and animals.
Characteristics of a Chemical Change
1. A chemical change is a permanent change
and cannot be easily reversed.
2. A new substance is formed during a
chemical change.
3. A chemical change is almost always
accompanied by large heat changes.
4. e mass of the substance changes in a
chemical change.

Knowledge Booster
In an irreversible change, new materials are
always formed. Some mes, these new materials
are useful to us, e.g., the baked cake cannot be Fig.3 Corrosion and combustion are
changed back into the cake mixture. chemical changes

78 Exploring Science-6
All Changes Involve Energy Examples of Changes in which Energy
A change is always accompanied by a change (Heat) is Evolved
in energy in one form or the other. No change Some of the changes in which heat is evolved
can take place without a corresponding are condensation of steam, freezing of water,
change in energy. When a change occurs, burning of fuels (coal, wood, LPG, natural gas,
energy is either absorbed or evolved etc.) dissolution of quick lime in water,
(released). burning of a candle wax, neutralisation of an
e change in which energy is absorbed is acid by a base, etc. In each of these changes,
known as an endothermic change. e energy is released for the change to take place.
change in which energy is evolved is known
as an exothermic change. Activity-2
Examples of Changes in which Energy Take a test tube and ll half of it with water.
(Heat) is Absorbed Touch it and feel the temperature of the test
tube. It will feel neither too hot, nor too cold.
We come across many endothermic changes
Now, add to it a teaspoonful of potassium
in our daily lives, i.e., changes accompanied by nitrate or ammonium chloride or urea. en,
absorption of energy. For example, melting of hold the test tube in your palm.
ice, cooking of food, conversion of water into You will nd that the test tube has become
steam, dissolution of glucose in water, etc. For cooler. is is because the formation of such
each of these changes, energy is required solutions requires energy. e heat energy of
(absorbed) for the change to take place. the test tube is sufficient for this reaction. e
solution absorbs this heat energy from the
Let us discuss some more examples.
test tube, thereby making the test tube cooler.
1. If you put a few drops of ether or alcohol
us, the dissolution of potassium nitrate or
on the back of your palm, the ether or ammonium chloride or urea in water is an
alcohol disappears and you feel a cooling example of an endothermic change.
sensation. is is because, ether or
alcohol absorbs heat energy from the
back of your palm and vaporises. us, Activity-3
you feel a cooling sensation. Put a small amount of washing soda on your
2. If a small amount of glucose is put on the palm. en put 5-6 drops of water on it. You
tongue, the glucose dissolves and the will feel that your palm becomes a little hot.
tongue feels cool. is is because glucose is is because heat energy is released when
washing soda dissolves in water. Natural
needs heat energy to dissolve. is
processes, such as the change of seasons,
energy is absorbed from our tongue. e ripening of fruits, the eruption of volcanoes,
tongue loses heat energy and a cooling preparation of food by plants, etc., also
sensation is produced. involve the release of energy.

Changes Around Us 79
 Checkpoint-2
Fill in the blanks
1. e changes which are useful for us are known as ____________ changes.
2. A ____________ change is a temporary change.
3. A new substance is formed during a ____________ change.
4. When iron rusts, its surface is covered with a ____________ layer.
5. Curdling of milk is a ____________ change.

Keywords
Desirable changes : Changes that are useful.
Undesirable changes : Changes that are harmful.
Periodic changes : Changes that occur again and again aer a xed interval of time.
Non-periodic changes : Changes that do not repeat themselves at regular intervals of time.
Reversible changes : Changes that can be reversed to their original form.
Irreversible changes : Changes which cannot be reversed to form the original substance.
Physical changes : Changes in the physical state of a substance.
Chemical changes : Changes in the chemical composition of a substance.

Points to Remember
u When one or more properties of a thing become different, we say that the thing has changed.
u ere must be a cause behind every change.
u e changes that are useful for us are known as desirable changes.
u e changes that are harmful to us are known as undesirable changes.
u Some changes occur very slowly while some are instantaneous or fast.
u e changes that occur repeatedly aer a xed interval of time are known as periodic changes.
u e changes that do not repeat themselves at regular intervals of time are known as non-periodic
changes.
u A change that can be reversed to the original form of a substance is called a reversible change.
u A change that cannot be reversed is known as an irreversible change.
u A physical change is a temporary change in which the physical property of a substance may
change but its chemical composition remains unchanged.
u A chemical change is a permanent change in which the composition of the substance changes,
giving rise to one or more new substances with different properties.
u e change in which energy is evolved is known as an exothermic change, and a change in which
energy is absorbed is called an endothermic change.
80 Exploring Science-6
 Exercise
A. Tick (3) the Correct Option
1. e changes which take place instantaneously are known as_______________.
(a) fast changes (b) slow changes
(c) desirable changes (d) undesirable change
2. Formation of curd from milk is a _______________.
(a) desirable change (b) undesirable change
(c) fast change (d) none of these
3. e changes that occur again and again aer a xed interval of time are known as ________.
(a) periodic change (b) non-periodic change
(c) chemical change (d) none of these
4. A physical change is_______________ in nature.
(a) temporary (b) permanent
(c) irreversible (d) none of these
5. Which of the following is a chemical change?
(a) Digestion of food (b) Ripening of fruits
(c) Germination of seeds (d) All of these
B. Fill in the Blanks with Suitable Words
1. e changes which take a longer time to occur are known as _______________ changes.
2. When ice is heated, it melts and changes into _______________.
3. A new substance is formed during a _______________ change.
4. e burning of paper is an example of _______________ change.
5. Change of seasons is a _______________ change.
C. Very Short-Answer-Type Questions
1. A physical change is usually reversible and temporary. True or False?
2. No new substance is formed during a chemical change. True or False?
3. Burning of paper is a reversible change. True or False?
4. Every change has a cause. True or False?
5. Give an example of each:
(a) Bene cial change (b) Harmful change

Changes Around Us 81
 (c) Change in state (d) Change in position
(e) Change in both shape and size (f) Slow change
(g) Periodic change (h) Reversible change
(i) Chemical change (j) Exothermic change
D. Short-Answer-Type Questions
1. What do you mean by a desirable change?
2. What are periodic changes? Give an example.
3. What is a reversible change? Give an example.
4. Give a reason for the following:
(a) Formation of clouds is a physical change.
(b) Explosion of a cracker is a chemical change.
5. Differentiate between endothermic and exothermic change. Give an example of each.
6. What do you mean by chemical changes? Give an example.
E. Long-Answer-Type Questions
1. Write a short note on periodic and non-periodic changes.
2. Write down the characteristics of:
(a) physical change (b) chemical change
3. Give examples of undesirable changes and explain their negative impacts on nature and
living organisms.
4. Justify the statement “All changes involve energy”.

HOTS Critical Thinking

1. Why are small gaps le in the railway tracks?
2. Why is the burning of a candle considered a physical as well as a
chemical change?
3. Tearing a sheet of paper is an irreversible change but it is not a
chemical change. Explain why?

Activity Zone
A. Make a list of ve things that are important to you. Now, write the raw materials from which
these things are made. What type of changes took place while making them?
B. It was Sneha's birthday. Her brother, Rohan, was helping her to decorate the house for the
birthday party. eir parents were also busy in making other arrangements. e following
activities were going on at Sneha's home:

82 Exploring Science-6
 (1) Rohan blew balloons and put them on the wall.
(2) Some of the balloons got burst.
(3) Sneha cut colourful strips of paper and put them on the wall with the help of a cellotape.
(4) Her father made dough balls.
(5) Her mother rolled the dough balls to make puris.
(6) Mother heated oil in a pan.
(7) Father fried the puris in hot oil.
Categorise the activities at Sneha's house as those that can be reversed and those that cannot be
reversed.

Project Work

C. Cooking food involves a lot of steps. Observe the preparation of various dishes at your home.
Try to identify two changes that can be reversed. Share your insights with your classmates.

Memory Map

Physical Chemical Reversible Irreversible

change change change change

CHANGES
AROUND US

Slow Fast Desirable Undesirable Periodic Non-periodic

change change change change change change

e-Resources
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Changes Around Us 83