Question

water is made of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom bonded together. julia is describing how water undergoes a physical change when it boils. she says that the particles shift to be farther apart and that the oxygen and hydrogen separate. she also says that the total mass of the steam is the same as the initial water, and that heat energy was required to cause the change. she finishes her description by saying that the steam can be turned back into water if it is cooled. which is the mistake in her description? \bigcirc the total mass remains the same in physical changes. \bigcirc the arrangement of particles may change in physical changes. \bigcirc atoms remain bonded to each other in physical changes. \bigcirc energy changes may occur in physical changes.

Explanation:

A physical change only alters the physical state or particle arrangement of a substance, not its chemical composition. When water boils, H₂O molecules move apart but the hydrogen and oxygen atoms remain bonded. Julia's error is claiming the atoms separate, which contradicts the fact that atoms stay bonded in physical changes. The correct option identifies this key property of physical changes.

Answer:

Atoms remain bonded to each other in physical changes.