1. Lesson 1 – Physical and Chemical Properties
Chemistry

2. Learning Goals
To be able to describe physical and chemical properties

3. A physical property is an identifying characteristic of a substance that can be observed or measured to help identify it

4. Qualitative physical properties are those you can observe with your senses
Examples include physical state, odour, colour, texture, and lustre
Quantitative physical properties are those you can measure and give a number value
Examples include mass, volume, and temperature

5. Property
Description
State
Condition of being a solid, liquid, or gas
Colour
Substance can be red, orange, colourless or if it is a mixed colour it can be described as greenish-blue
Taste
Sweet, sour, salty, or bitter
Texture
The “feel” of an object, e.g. fine, silky, waxy, gritty, smooth

6. Property
Description
Clarity
Either transparent (clear), translucent (cloudy), or opaque (no light passes through)
Odour
The scent of a substance, e.g. odourless, burnt, flowery, putrid, spicy, sharp, choking, pungent
Brittleness
Ability of an object to break apart or to shatter easily – a substance which bends without breaking is flexible
Lustre
Ability of an object to reflect light; a shiny object has a high lustre, e.g. metal, described as shiny, dull, etc.

7. Property
Description
Lustre
Ability of an object to reflect light; a shiny object has a high lustre, e.g. metal, described as shiny, dull, etc.
Hardness
Determined by the resistance to being scratched; given on a scale of 1-10 with diamond being a 10
Solubility
Ability to dissolve in another substance
Viscosity
Measure of how easily a liquid flows; a substance that does not flow easily has a high viscosity, e.g. honey

8. Property
Description
Ductility
Ability of a substance to be stretched into wire
Malleability
Ability to hammer or bend a substance into different shapes
Conductivity
Ability of a substance to conduct or transfer electricity or heat
Density
Amount of matter that occupies a certain amount of space

9. A chemical property is a description of a what a substance does when it reacts to produce a new substance

10. Combustibility
A chemical property that describes the ability of a substance to burn
In order for any substance to burn, it needs oxygen from the air
Examples of combustible materials include matches, wood, and gasoline

11. Reactivity
Another chemical property that describes the ability of a substance to react easily with other substances (such as air, water, or acid)
For example, iron will rust and silver will tarnish when exposed to air

12. Light Sensitivity
Some substances will become new substances when they interact with light
An example would be hydrogen peroxide, often used as a disinfectant
When this substance is exposed to light, it changes into water and oxygen gas, and is no longer useful

13. Success Criteria
I CAN describe the physical and chemical properties of a substance

14. To Do…
Activity
Worksheet