Which statement best describes what happens to the particles in a substance during a physical change?

• A. The particles are destroyed and replaced by entirely new particles.
• B. The particles lose energy and become chemically bonded to each other.
• C. The arrangement or movement of particles changes, but the particles themselves remain the same.
• D. The particles are broken down into different atoms, forming new substances.

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that a physical change affects the form or appearance of a substance without altering its chemical identity.
2. Recall that particles in a substance are atoms or molecules that remain chemically unchanged during a physical change.
3. Recognize that during a physical change, the particles may change their arrangement or how they move (such as changing state from solid to liquid), but their internal structure stays the same.
4. Contrast this with chemical changes, where particles are broken down or rearranged to form new substances with different chemical properties.
5. Conclude that the best description of a physical change is that the arrangement or movement of particles changes, but the particles themselves remain the same.