Why is breaking down a compound into its elements considered a chemical change?

1 Answer
anor277
Feb 23, 2016

Because chemical bonds have been broken, and new substances (here, elements) are formed.

Explanation:

Chemical change is characterized by the formation of new substances, and the making and breaking of strong chemical bonds. Decomposition of a compound into its elemental constituents certainly falls under this umbrella. Therefore, you are quite correct to designate this transition as a chemical change.

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