What process involves the transformation of one or more substances into different substances?

The correct answer, involving the transformation of one or more substances into different substances, is a chemical reaction. In a chemical reaction, the bonds between atoms are broken and new bonds are formed, resulting in the production of new substances with different properties from the original reactants. This process not only alters the chemical composition of the reactants but also typically involves a change in energy, as species may absorb or release energy in the form of heat or light.

In contrast, a physical change refers to changes that affect the form of a substance but do not alter its chemical composition. For example, melting ice into water is a physical change; the water remains H2O, merely changing from solid to liquid form.

Phase transitions, such as boiling or freezing, are specific types of physical changes that occur when substances change between solid, liquid, or gas states without changing their chemical identity. Similarly, soluble interactions involve the mixing or dissolving of substances, which may change their physical distribution but not their underlying chemical structure. Therefore, only a chemical reaction fulfills the criteria of transforming substances into entirely different chemical entities.