Is leaves turning color in the fall a chemical or physical change?

Answer 1

I don't know the scientific equation, but I do know that the tree withdraws it's sugars from the leaves, during the autumn and winter to make sure that there is enough for the main tree.

The withdrawal of the sugars is a physical action, but it is a chemical one as well. The chlorophyll that was made thru the sunlight on the leaves for photosynthesis. This stops when the weather turns colder and there is less sunlight causing the leaves lessen the amount to chlorophyll they can make, signaling to the tree to cut off the sugar supply to the leaves.

I'd say it's both.

Also,

You have witnessed a spectacular chemical

change if you have seen the leaves on a tree

change from green to bright yellow, red, or orange. But, it is not a

change from a green pigment to a red pigment, as you might

think. Pigments are chemicals that give leaves their color. In autumn, however, changes in temperature and rainfall amounts cause trees to stop producing

chlorophyll. The chlorophyll already in the leaves undergoes a

chemical change into colorless chemicals.Where do the bright fall

colors come from? The pigments that produce fall colors have

been present in the leaves all along. However, in the summer,

chlorophyll is present in large enough amounts to mask these pigments.

In the fall, when chlorophyll production stops, the bright

pigments become visible.

Answer 2

Often , a color is evidence of a chemical change . Year round , leaves contain yellow , red , and orange pigments that are masked , or hidden , by large amounts of green chlorophyll . In autumn , changes in temperature and rainfall amounts cause trees to stop producing chlorophyll . When chlorophyll production stops , the masked pigments become visible

Answer 3

Falling of leaves is a physical process but the degradation of leaves is a chemical process.

Answer 4

This change is chemical.