Q.What are the types of the following changes? Natural waterfall, spreading of smoke from burning inscence stick, diffusion of fragrance of flowers. Can the above changes take place in the opposite direction ?
Step 1. A natural waterfall involves water falling under gravity -- a physical change (no new substance forms) that does not reverse on its own; water does not flow back uphill spontaneously.
Step 2. Smoke spreading from a burning incense stick is a physical process of diffusion -- smoke particles disperse through the air and do not spontaneously gather themselves back into the stick.
Step 3. Diffusion of fragrance from flowers is likewise a physical change (the fragrant molecules spread out through the surrounding air by diffusion) and it too does not spontaneously reverse.
Step 4. So all three are physical (not chemical) changes, and all three are irreversible under ordinary conditions -- they proceed in one direction only, driven by gravity (waterfall) or the natural tendency of gas molecules to spread out and mix (diffusion of smoke and fragrance), and none of them reverses on its own.
All three are physical changes and are irreversible -- they proceed in one direction only and do not spontaneously reverse.
Unlock everything free for 14 days
- Full step-by-step solutions
- Concept-first explanations
- Methods, shortcuts & mistakes
- PYQ mapping + timed mock tests
Full access for 14 days. No credit card required.