Is adding food coloring to a physical or chemical change?

Adding food coloring to a liquid is an example of a physical change. A physical change is a change in the form or appearance of a substance without a change in its chemical composition. For example, cutting paper, melting ice or crushing a rock are all examples of physical changes because the fundamental chemical composition of the substances involved does not change.

In the case of adding food coloring to a liquid, the food coloring simply disperses throughout the liquid, resulting in a change in the color of the liquid. However, the chemical composition of the liquid itself remains unchanged. No new substances are formed, and no chemical reactions take place.

Chemical changes, on the other hand, involve a change in the chemical composition of a substance, resulting in the formation of new substances with different properties. Some examples of chemical changes include burning wood, rusting of iron or digestion of food.