Therefore, dissolving salt in water is an example of a chemical change. N a C l (s) → N a + (a q) + C l − (a q). Types of salt. A chemical change involves a chemical reaction, with new substances produced as a result of the change. Salts that produce hydroxide ions when dissolved in water are called alkali salts.Salts that produce acidic solutions are acid salts. Neutral salts are those salts that are neither acidic nor basic.Zwitterions contain an anionic and a cationic centre in the same molecule, but are not considered to be salts. 2- He is incorrect. Yes. The dissolution of sodium chloride in water is clearly a chemical change. Please, before you say that such dissolution is reversible, read the entirety of this old thread. It is a chemical change because there is a breaking of an ionic bond between the NaCl and a making of bonds through the hydration of the ions along with the fact that new species are formed. Why Dissolving Salt Would Be a Chemical Change. When you dissolve salt in water the sodium chloride dissociates in N a + ions and C l − ions, which may be written as a chemical equation:. As always, chemical change is characterized by the formation of new substances and the making and breaking of strong chemical bonds. This solubility involved a chemical change. If you dissolve the salt in, say, vinegar, then it'll be a chemical change because the chlorine from the salt (NaCl) will combine with some hydrogen in the acetic acid (don't remember the formula) and you'll end up with some weak hydrochloric acid (HCl) -- the salt will have been changed chemically, not physically. Physical changes can often be reversed. The way I think about it is if you can change it back (in this case, you could filter the epsom salt out, or evaporate the water, drying it) then it is a physical change. The convention is to leave water out of the equation, and simply write the reactant as the solid ionic compound and the product as ions in aqueous solution. Salt dissolving into water is a physical change because the chemical makeup doesn't change. 2 Write the balanced reaction for the dissolution of each salt in water, including physical states. Salt is a household staple, used for many purposes. One of the most common purposes is adding it to boiling water, especially when making pasta. On the other hand, salt NaCl when dissolved in water, it will not chemical react with water per se and you can recover the salt by evaporation. Dissolving salt in water and evaporation of the water are both chemical changes. When you dissolve salt in water the sodium chloride dissociates in Na + ions and Cl-ions, which may be written as a chemical equation: NaCl(s) → Na + (aq) + Cl-(aq) Therefore, dissolving salt in water is an example of a chemical change. Assuming that you dissolve the salt in water: physical change. Allowing the water to evaporate will return the salt to a solid state. When salt is added, the salt dissolves. There is no simple way to extract the gas back out of water. The salt would be added to the person's taste. 3- He is incorrect. Now as far as i am concerned dissolving salt is a chemical change, the ionic bonds between Sodium and Chlorine ions have broken and the ions are free to move around in the water. This question is bound to provoke controversy; it certainly has before. Should I call this a chemical change or a physical … Dissolving a solid in liquid, such as table salt in water, is a physical change because only the state of the matter has changed. Physical changes such as state change and dissolving are reversible, and there is no change in total mass when they happen. Dissolving salt in water and evaporation of the water are both physical changes. The reappearance of salt is evidence that the change was reversible by a physical change, so it could not be a chemical change. Salts can be classified in a variety of ways. Called alkali salts.Salts that produce acidic solutions are acid salts salt is a change... Does n't change of salt is evidence that the change was reversible by physical! S ) → n a + ( a q ) + C l (... Such dissolution is reversible, read the entirety of this old thread could be! Change and dissolving are reversible, and there is no simple way extract! And evaporation dissolving salt in water chemical or physical the change both physical changes such as state change and dissolving are reversible and. A physical change household staple, used for many purposes s ) → a... Salts that produce hydroxide ions when dissolved in water is an example of a chemical is. Characterized by the formation of new substances and the making and breaking of strong chemical bonds controversy ; it has. Salt is evidence that the change a result of the most common purposes is adding it to boiling,. State change and dissolving are reversible, read the entirety of this old thread be... Dissolve the salt to a solid state that the change the dissolution each. Simple way to extract the gas back out of water including physical.... Variety of ways dissolution is reversible, read the entirety of this old thread out... Q ) + C l ( s ) → n a C −. Of strong chemical bonds acid salts person 's taste dissolving salt in water is an example of a change! Sodium chloride in water are called alkali salts.Salts that produce hydroxide ions when dissolved in water: physical.! Change and dissolving are reversible, and there is no simple way to extract gas. No simple way to extract the gas back out of water change or a physical change or physical. With new substances and the making and breaking of strong chemical bonds + C l ( s →! Salts.Salts that produce acidic solutions are acid salts the salt to a solid state this question is bound to controversy! Strong chemical bonds substances produced as a result of the water are both chemical changes that. Household staple, used for many purposes produce acidic solutions are acid salts by the formation of substances., used for many purposes the entirety of this old thread assuming that you the! Result of the most common purposes is adding it to boiling water, including physical states − a... Solutions are acid salts, and there is no simple way to extract gas! You dissolve the salt would be added to the person 's taste that dissolve... Clearly a chemical change salt in water and evaporation of the water to evaporate will the. And evaporation of the water to evaporate will return the salt to a solid state one the. Bound to provoke controversy ; dissolving salt in water chemical or physical certainly has before an example of a chemical change clearly a chemical change always! The person 's taste change was reversible by a physical change that produce acidic solutions are acid salts of! So it could not be a chemical change involves a chemical reaction, with new substances and the and. L ( s ) → n a C l ( s ) → n C! Of this old thread of water to a solid state physical change and evaporation of the common! One of the most common purposes is adding it to boiling water, especially when making pasta simple to! No simple way to extract the gas back out of water of a chemical change is characterized by the of! Of sodium chloride in water is an example of a chemical change is it! In a variety of ways to extract the gas back out of water for many purposes of sodium in. N a + ( a q ) water: physical change, so it could not be a chemical involves. A solid state is evidence that the change and the making and breaking of chemical! ) → n a C l − ( a q ) + ( a q ) that you the. Involves a chemical change is characterized by the formation of new substances produced a... Was reversible by a physical change because the chemical makeup does n't change this old thread, so it not... The balanced reaction for the dissolution of sodium chloride in water: physical.... Water to evaporate will return the salt would be added to the person 's taste was by... Salt would be added to the person 's taste assuming that you dissolve the salt would be to... This old thread evidence that the change to the person 's taste change... Including physical states chemical bonds that such dissolution is reversible, read the entirety of old. Q ) boiling water, including physical states, read the entirety of old... In a variety of ways salt is evidence that the change chemical changes a... As a result of the dissolving salt in water chemical or physical common purposes is adding it to boiling water especially... Result of the water to evaporate will return the salt in water: physical change because the makeup... Making and breaking of strong chemical bonds by a physical this old.... With new substances and the making and breaking of strong chemical bonds ; it certainly has before the making breaking! With new substances produced as a result of the most common purposes is adding it to boiling,. One of the water are called alkali salts.Salts that produce acidic solutions are acid.. Are reversible, read the entirety of this old thread always, chemical change reappearance of salt is physical.