Is mothballs a physical change?


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A. The vaporization of mothballs is a physical change. All changes in states of matter (condensation, evaporation, freezing, sublimation, melting) are physical changes because the chemical substance remains the same.

What change is mothballs?

A: Mothballs are made of naphthalene, a substance that undergoes sublimation at room temperature. The solid mothballs slowly changed to a gas during the summer months, explaining why they were much smaller by autumn.

What is the chemical in mothballs?

Mothballs are commonly made of naphthalene or para- dichlorobenzene, both of which are toxic to humans. These chemicals are solids at room temperature and are made into round balls, flakes or cakes that slowly change to a gas and become fumes in the air. Are mothballs toxic?

What is the phase change of mothballs disappearing?

At room temperatures the naphthalene balls disappear with time without leaving any solid. This phenomenon is due to a phase transformation called sublimation.

Is naphthalene physical or chemical change?

Solution: The conversion of a solid directly to gaseous form and on cooling back to the solid-state is sublimation. Sublimation of naphthalene is a physical change because the state of matter changes.

Which of the following is an example of chemical change?

Burning, cooking, rusting and rotting are examples of chemical changes.

Why are they called moth balls?

Even though they seem to be a general repellant, there is a reason they are called “moth” balls: they are specifically designed and labeled for moths. The purpose of this document is to provide the public with definitions and instructions for proper usage of mothballs.

What do mothballs do?

HOW ARE MOTHBALLS INTENDED TO BE USED? The fumes from mothballs kill clothes moths, their eggs and larvae that eat natural fibers in indoor storage areas, such as closets, attics and basements. Mothballs are not intended to be used outdoors.

Why sublimation of naphthalene is a physical change?

Sublimation of naphthalene is a physical change due to the following reasons: -The chemical composition of naphthalene balls do not alter during the process of sublimation. -No chemical reaction takes place during the sublimation process. -Only a change in the physical state occurs which doesn’t mean a chemical change.

Are moth balls illegal?

Other common pesticide products that have illegal versions include flea and tick repellents for pets, antibacterial cleansers, mothballs, and other products that claim to get rid of household pests.

Can mothball smell hurt you?

If you smell mothballs, you are being exposed to these chemicals. This can cause neurological damage, especially to smaller-bodied pets and children. Children or pets sometimes mistake mothballs for food or candy and eat them, which can cause serious, and even deadly, effects.

Do snakes not like moth balls?

Do mothballs repel snakes? Moth balls are common old-time home remedy to keep snakes away, but this old wives’ tale doesn’t stand the test of science. Mothballs don’t repel snakes. Snakes “smell” with their tongues, so methods like mothballs that rely on odors are unlikely to deter them.

What happens when you put mothballs in water?

At hazardous waste sites and landfills, naphthalene can dissolve in water, attach to soil, and leach into underground drinking water. Some naphthalene dissolves in rivers, lakes, or wells and evaporates within two weeks. Bacteria destroy naphthalene in water.

Do mothballs dissolve over time?

A mothball that is being used and has been exposed to air will begin to dissolve around 2-3 months when used properly and can take double that amount of time to fully dissolve. Once mothballs start to dissolve, they usually can still be effective, but less effective as time goes on.

What happens when mothballs get wet?

Wet mothballs are even more potent than dry ones. And the wetness can be profound, like exposure to water from a flood or leaky pipe, or mild, in the form of high humidity. Either will cause the odor to be more potent and sublimation to be more rapid.

Is naphthalene balls chemical change?

It’s a physical change, because there is no chemical reaction involved.

Which type of change is shown by evaporation of naphthalene balls?

Naphthalene undergoes sublimation easily, i.e., the change of state of naphthalene from solid to gas without the intervention of the liquid state.

Which one of the is not a chemical change?

Sublimation is a process in which the substance’s phase transition occurs directly from solid to the gaseous phase. Hence, it is physical change not chemical. >

What are 20 physical changes examples?

  • Boiling of water.
  • Melting of ice.
  • Conversion of water to vapour.
  • Tearing of paper.
  • Cutting a fruit.
  • Freezing of water.
  • Cutting of cloths.
  • Cutting a cake.

What are 3 examples of physical changes?

Changes in the size or form of matter are examples of physical change. Physical changes include transitions from one state to another, such as from solid to liquid or liquid to gas. Cutting, bending, dissolving, freezing, boiling, and melting are some of the processes that create physical changes.

Which of these is not an example of a physical change?

The burning of wood is not a physical change because new substances like carbon dioxide and water vapour are formed along with heat and light. In the other cases like cutting of wood, breaking of glass and melting of gold, no new substance is formed.

Can I put mothballs in my bedroom?

According to the National Pesticide Information Center (NPIC), the chemicals use in mothballs can be toxic to humans and pets and as people are exposed to these chemicals that are released as toxic fumes in the air space of the home.

Are moth balls toxic to dogs?

What makes mothballs poisonous for dogs? Perhaps the most toxic commonly found mothball ingredient is camphor. Camphor ingestion results in central nervous system poisoning where a dog can become agitated and develop seizures. The signs will occur quickly after ingestion and can be life-threatening.

How can you keep snakes away?

  1. Replace grass or mulch with gravel. Snakes can’t move or hide easily on gravel and other hard surfaces.
  2. Remove bird feeders, birdbaths, and other sources of food and water.
  3. Keep pet food inside.
  4. Trim bushes and trees.
  5. Reconsider water features.
  6. Install snake-proof fencing.

How long do moth balls smell?

Mothball odor is a terrible smell to have clinging to your clothing. And we have some shocking news for you: a single mothball takes about 3-6 months to dissipate completely. If you put the mothball under fabric or someplace where there is no air circulation, it takes about 12 months to dissipate!

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