* New substances are formed: When paper burns, it reacts with oxygen in the air. This reaction produces ash, carbon dioxide, water vapor, and other gases. These are entirely different substances from the original paper.

* Irreversible change: You can't simply reverse the process and get the original sheet of paper back by just cooling the ash and gases.

* Energy is released: Burning paper is an exothermic reaction, meaning it releases heat and light energy.

In summary: Burning paper involves a chemical reaction where the original substance is transformed into entirely new substances, making it a chemical change.