Salt Dissolving in Water

[905373636]

This is a question that has haunted me for many years:

Is salt (NaCl) dissolving in water a physical or chemical change?

In water the ions are technically separated as the sheer [H2O] is powerful enough to separate them (the amount of ion-dipole interactions is more and stronger than the ionic bonds) and thus I'd say the composition of salt changes and it's thus a chemical change.

However, when the salty water evaporates, salt crystals form once again on the bottom of the container.

Sugar dissolving in water is a physical change as the molecule doesn't separate in water, but salt does. However, both form crystals at the bottom of their containers when the water is evaporated.

What do y'all think?

[Tai Metzger 3K]

I hope I can help you resolve this haunting question. I believe that it is a physical reaction because no bonds are broken.

[905373636]

I hope I can help you resolve this haunting question. I believe that it is a physical reaction because no bonds are broken.

I thought, though, that salt dissolving in water meant that the ions bonds were broken -- making the solution homogeneous (?)

[Joseph Saba]

I think its a physical change. But I also think you should see someone about this nightmare.