If I hold a 5-cm piece of copper wire over heat until it glows red/then allow the wire to cool/inspect it once again. Then would I classify it as a physical change or chemical change???
1 Answer
Jan 25, 2018
Depends how hot the flame is and how long you hold it there.....
Explanation:
If the amount of heat energy provided is sufficient the surface of the copper wire may form copper oxide (copper (II) oxide forms at above 300 celcius).
In such a case, it is a chemical change in terms of the surface of the copper that reacts.
If the temperature is not sufficient to cause formation of the oxide, then it would just be a physical change, in which the copper's temperature increases.
