* A new substance is formed: The magnesium (Mg) reacts with the copper sulfate (CuSO₄) to form magnesium sulfate (MgSO₄) and copper metal (Cu).
* The original substances are transformed: The magnesium metal disappears, and copper metal appears in its place. This indicates that the original substances have been chemically altered.
* Evidence of a reaction: You'd observe these changes:
* The magnesium strip will start to dissolve.
* The blue color of the copper sulfate solution will fade.
* A reddish-brown coating of copper metal will form on the magnesium strip.
* The solution will likely get warmer due to the release of heat during the reaction.
The chemical equation for this reaction is:
Mg (s) + CuSO₄ (aq) → MgSO₄ (aq) + Cu (s)
Key takeaways:
* Chemical changes result in the formation of new substances with different properties.
* Physical changes only alter the appearance or state of matter, not the chemical composition.
