Properties of Matter
Any substance can be identified by its property and composition. There are four
properties of matter that are physical properties, chemical properties, extensive
properties, and intensive properties.
A physical property is associated with a physical change that can be observed and
measured. When there is a physical change, the composition or the internal structure
does not change. For example, chopping the vegetable into pieces or melting the ice into
water or painting a piece of wood. Even though, the appearance changes, the
composition does not change, that means, we did not destroy or change the molecules
inside. They still remained intact.
A chemical property is an observable property that often used to identify the chemical
change. When there is a chemical change, the internal structure does not remain the
same and besides something new is formed. For example, burning of a gasoline in your
car engine or digesting the food in your body.
Example
Classify each of the following as physical or chemical change.
(a) Dissolving the sugar in water
(b) Burning of alcohol
(c) Rusting of iron nail
(d) Freezing of water
(e) Tarnishing of silverwares in your homes.
Answer
(a) physical, (b) chemical, (c) chemical, (d) physical, (e) chemical.
Most of the time, we measure the properties of matter. As such, all measurable properties
fall into groups: intensive property and extensive property. Intensive property is the
property that does not depend on the amount of matter. Examples include temperature,
density, specific gravity, pressure, melting point, and boiling point. Extensive property
is the property that depends on the amount of matter. Examples include length, volume,
and mass.
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