In chemistry, a hydration reaction is a chemical reaction in which a substance combines with water. In organic chemistry, water is added to an unsaturated substrate, which is usually an alkene or an alkyne. read more
According to one text, a change in color, release of a gas (and some other changes), are indications of a chemical reaction. Since water vapor is released and the solid changes color, this should be considered as a chemical reaction, not a physical change. read more