Q
QuestionChemistry

Is silver tarnishing a physical change or a chemical change?
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Answer

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Step 1
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Step 2
: Understand the Nature of Tarnishing

Silver tarnishing occurs when silver reacts with sulfur-containing substances in the air, forming a dark layer of silver sulfide ($$Ag_2S$$) on the surface of the silver object.

Final Answer

Silver tarnishing is a CHEMICAL CHANGE, not a physical change, because it involves the formation of a new chemical compound (silver sulfide) through a chemical reaction that alters the fundamental composition of the silver.