Melting water is an example of a physical change because the atoms are pulled apart to form a new substance. bonds are broken and atoms are rearranged. the identity of the substance does not change. it does not involve intermolecular forces or particle motion.

The appropriate answer is 'the identity of the substance does not change'. Melting water is a phase change from solid to liquid. the melting occurs because the solid ice has absorbed energy or heat energy which breaks down the crystal structure of the ice so that the particles of water are free to flow around. the chemical formula of the substance does not change.