Can a change in state be a chemical change?

No, a change in state is not a chemical change, but a physical change.

A change in state, also known as a phase change, is a type of physical change. This means that the substance involved remains the same, even though it may change form. For example, when water boils, it changes from a liquid to a gas, but it is still water. The molecules of water do not change, they just move around more freely. This is different from a chemical change, where a new substance is formed.

Chemical changes involve a process known as a chemical reaction. During a chemical reaction, the atoms in the reactants rearrange to form new substances, known as products. These new substances have different properties from the reactants. For example, when hydrogen reacts with oxygen, water is formed. The water has different properties from the hydrogen and oxygen.

In contrast, during a change in state, the substance's particles rearrange, but they do not form a new substance. For example, when ice melts, it changes from a solid to a liquid. The water molecules in the ice rearrange to take up more space and move more freely, but they are still water molecules. The properties of the water do not change, only its state does.

So, while both chemical changes and changes in state involve a rearrangement of particles, only chemical changes result in the formation of new substances. Changes in state are physical changes, not chemical changes.