* Physical Change: A physical change alters the form or appearance of a substance but not its chemical composition. Examples include melting ice (water changes state but remains H₂O), cutting paper (shape changes but the paper is still cellulose), or dissolving sugar in water (sugar molecules disperse but remain intact).

* Chemical Change: A chemical change involves the formation of new substances with different chemical properties. The atoms within the original substances are rearranged to create new molecules.

In the case of copper sulfate:

* Starting materials: Copper sulfate (CuSO₄) is formed by a reaction between copper metal (Cu) and sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄). This reaction involves the formation of new chemical bonds and the release of energy, indicating a chemical change.

* New substance: Copper sulfate is a distinct compound with its own unique properties (blue color, solubility in water, etc.).

Therefore, the formation of copper sulfate is a chemical change.