* No new substances are formed: When you bend a metal, you're not changing the atoms that make up the metal. The metal remains the same chemically.
* The change is reversible: You can often straighten out a bent piece of metal, returning it to its original shape. This indicates that the change is not permanent.
* Only physical properties change: Bending changes properties like the shape, size, and surface area of the metal. However, properties like density, melting point, and chemical reactivity remain the same.
Contrast with a chemical change:
A chemical change involves the formation of new substances with different chemical compositions. For example, burning a piece of metal would be a chemical change, as it would involve the formation of metal oxides.
In summary: Bending a metal is a physical change because it alters the shape and form of the metal without changing its chemical composition.