Can dissolving be classified as a chemical change?

No, dissolving is not classified as a chemical change, but rather a physical change.

Dissolving is a process where a solute (the substance that is dissolved) is mixed into a solvent (the substance that does the dissolving) to form a solution. This process is considered a physical change because it does not alter the chemical composition of the substances involved. The molecules of the solute and the solvent simply interact and spread out, but they do not form new substances.

In a chemical change, the substance or substances involved undergo a chemical reaction, resulting in the formation of a new substance with different properties. This is not the case when a substance dissolves. For example, when sugar dissolves in water, the sugar molecules are simply dispersed within the water; they do not react with the water molecules to form a new substance. The sugar and water can also be separated again by evaporation, which further demonstrates that no chemical change has occurred.

It's important to note that while dissolving can sometimes be accompanied by observable changes, such as a change in colour or temperature, these are not indicative of a chemical change. These changes are due to the interactions between the solute and solvent molecules, not a change in their chemical identities.

In summary, dissolving is a physical change because it involves changes in the state or appearance of a substance, not its chemical composition. The molecules of the substances involved simply rearrange, but they do not form new substances. This is a key distinction that sets dissolving apart from chemical changes.