Is baking a cake in the oven a physical change or a chemical change?

Baking a cake is a chemical change because it involves chemical reactions that alter the ingredients at a molecular level. The heat from the oven causes the proteins in the flour and eggs to denature, while baking soda reacts with acidic ingredients, producing carbon dioxide. These reactions result in new substances with different properties, such as texture, flavor, and color, compared to the raw ingredients. The process is irreversible, as the chemical makeup of the ingredients has been fundamentally altered, making it a chemical change.