What is the result of a chemical change?

A chemical change results in the formation of new substances through the breaking and forming of chemical bonds. During this process, the original substances, or reactants, undergo transformations to create different substances, known as products. This is a fundamental characteristic of chemical reactions; the composition and properties of the materials involved change significantly, which distinguishes them from physical changes where substances retain their original properties and composition.

While it is true that during chemical changes, the mass of the reactants is conserved (the total mass remains the same), this statement alone does not capture the essence of a chemical change. Similarly, changes in physical state, such as going from solid to liquid, can occur due to physical changes rather than chemical changes. Temperature changes may occur during some reactions but are not a definitive indicator of a chemical change by themselves. The formation of new substances is the key feature that determines that a chemical change has taken place.