Is sublimation a chemical or physical change?

1 Answer
Oct 19, 2016

It is a physical change. See explanation.

Explanation:

A chemical change (reaction) is a process after which a new substance (one or more) is created. For example:

#HCl+NaOH -> NaCl + H_2O#

In this process (reaction) from 2 particles: acid (#HCl#) and a hydroxide (#NaOH#) another 2 substances: salt (#NaCl#) and water
(#H_2O#) are formed.

In a physical change NO new substances are formed.

After sublimation a solid changes to a gas, but it is still the same substance. Only the state of matter has changed.