* Shredding is a physical change, not a chemical change. Physical changes alter the form or appearance of a substance, but not its chemical composition. The paper is still made of the same molecules (cellulose, lignin, etc.) before and after shredding.
* Energy is transferred, not gained. Shredding requires energy input (the effort of the shredder). This energy is used to break the bonds between paper fibers, not to add energy to the atoms themselves. Some energy may be lost as heat due to friction, but overall, the atoms within the paper molecules don't gain energy.
* Atoms are already in a stable state. Atoms are at their lowest energy state when they form stable molecules. To add energy to an atom would require a chemical reaction to change its electron configuration, which doesn't happen during shredding.
Pensez-y de cette façon: Shredding is like cutting a piece of wood into smaller pieces. The wood is still wood, just in a different shape. The atoms within the wood haven't changed their energy levels.
