If a substance fails to rust or tarnish, does a physical or chemical change occur?

Question

Rusting and tarnishing are two chemical changes that matter undergoes. If matter FAILS to rust or tarnish, would you say it has undergone a chemical or physical change?

Answer 1

Hello, Kei,

Failure to rust or tarnish is evidence that there was no chemical change with respect to a reaction with oxygen, or other oxidant. But that evidence isn't enough to flatly state whether a chemical or physical change occurs, as is suggested by the question. The questions seems to infer a change occurred, but it wasn't due to rust or tarnish. But there isn't any information on what change actually occurred, so the best we can say is "The substance doesn't rust or tarnish," right back to where we started.

Sorry - perhaps I misunderstand the question. Is there more to the problem?

Bob

Answer 2

That depends on what else happens to it. If it doesn't rust or tarnish, and nothing else happens, then it has neither undergone a physical nor a chemical change. Not really sure what the question is asking as it is phrased in a strange manner.