# A chef dissolves sugar in hot water to make a syrup. Later, the chef accidentally burns some sugar in a pan, turning it black and producing a smell of caramel. State which of these two processes is a physical change and which is a chemical change, and justify your answer for each process.

> Cambridge International IGCSE Chemistry (0620) — 6.1 Physical and chemical changes · Justify · 4 marks

## Mark scheme (4 marks)

1. Dissolving sugar is a physical change
2. Because dissolving is reversible / no new substance is formed / sugar can be recovered (by evaporation)
3. Burning sugar is a chemical change
4. Because a new substance is formed / the change is irreversible / carbon (black solid) and new compounds are produced

## Key terms

- [physical change](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/physical-change)
- [chemical change](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/chemical-change)

## Related

- [Revision notes for Cambridge International IGCSE Chemistry (0620)](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/learn)
- [How to answer "Justify" questions](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/tools/command-word-cheatsheet)
- [Practice this with AI marking (free)](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/start)

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Source: [GradeNine](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/q/a-chef-dissolves-sugar-in-hot-ee6bfb36) · Published by Druglandscape Ltd.