Is it wrong to say a chemical change is irreversible while physical change is reversible?

Answer 1

Simplistically speaking, the statement is true - not wrong/false.

For example, one physical change is to fold paper. After the paper is folded, you can rather effectively unfold it and return it to its original condition. One chemical change is to burn something. After paper is burned, the ashes cannot be "unbunrt" back into paper.

However, some chemical changes are reversible. For example, photosynthesis is a chemical change in which water, carbon dioxide, and energy are turned into oxygen and sugars. Respiration is a chemical process in which oxygen and sugars are converted back into water, carbon dioxide, and energy. However, the process of respiration is much more complex than photosynthesis and is not the "reverse" of it, i.e. respiration is non un-photosynthesis.

Answer 2

In general, yes, it is correct to say that chemical changes are typically considered irreversible because they involve a change in the chemical composition of a substance. Physical changes, on the other hand, involve changes in the appearance or state of a substance and are typically reversible. However, there can be exceptions to both these generalizations depending on the specific conditions and substances involved.