Physical & Chemical Properties of Matter

Physical Properties Physical property – any characteristic that can be observed without changing the composition of the substance

Examples of Physical Properties Viscosity – a liquids resistance to flowing Conductivity – ability to allow heat to flow Malleability – ability to be shaped with a hammer Hardness

Examples, cont. Melting point – temperature at which a solid changes into a liquid Boiling point – temperature at which a liquid changes to a gas Density = mass/volume (“heavy” vs “light”)

Using Physical Properties Used to identify unknown materials Ex: used in forensics to solve crimes Used to choose appropriate material for a job Used to separate mixtures Filtration – separates materials based on particle size Distillation – separate solutions based on boiling points

Chemical Properties Chemical property – produces a change in the composition of the matter

Chemical Properties Flammability – material’s ability to burn in the presence of oxygen Reactivity – ability to combine chemically with another substance

Recognizing Chemical Changes A change in color (brief video) Production of a gas (bubbles video) Formation of a precipitate (brief precipitation video) Precipitate – a solid that forms and separates from a liquid

Physical vs Chemical Change Physical change – occurs when some properties of a material changes, but substances in the material stays the same Example: melting of ice Chemical change – substance reacts and forms a new substance Example: rusting of a nail