examples of physical and chemical properties and changes

As another example, consider the distinct but related properties of heat and temperature. If the gallon and cup of milk are each at 20 ☌ (room temperature), when they are combined, the temperature remains at 20 ☌. Temperature is an example of an intensive property. If the property of a sample of matter does not depend on the amount of matter present, it is an intensive property. The value of an extensive property is directly proportional to the amount of matter in question. The mass and volume of a substance are examples of extensive properties for instance, a gallon of milk has a larger mass and volume than a cup of milk.

If the property depends on the amount of matter present, it is an extensive property. Properties of matter fall into one of two categories. (credit b: modification of work by Jeff Turner credit c: modification of work by Gloria Cabada-Leman credit d: modification of work by Roberto Verzo) (d) A banana turning brown is a chemical change as new, darker (and less tasty) substances form. (c) Cooking red meat causes a number of chemical changes, including the oxidation of iron in myoglobin that results in the familiar red-to-brown color change. (b) During the combustion of a match, cellulose in the match and oxygen from the air undergo a chemical change to form carbon dioxide and water vapor. (a) Copper and nitric acid undergo a chemical change to form copper nitrate and brown, gaseous nitrogen dioxide. In each of these examples, there is a change in the physical state, form, or properties of the substance, but no change in its chemical composition.įigure 3. Other examples of physical changes include magnetizing and demagnetizing metals (as is done with common antitheft security tags) and grinding solids into powders (which can sometimes yield noticeable changes in color). We observe a physical change when wax melts, when sugar dissolves in coffee, and when steam condenses into liquid water (Figure 1). A physical change is a change in the state or properties of matter without any accompanying change in its chemical composition (the identities of the substances contained in the matter).

Other physical properties, such as the melting temperature of iron or the freezing temperature of water, can only be observed as matter undergoes a physical change. We can observe some physical properties, such as density and color, without changing the physical state of the matter observed. Familiar examples of physical properties include density, color, hardness, melting and boiling points, and electrical conductivity. A physical property is a characteristic of matter that is not associated with a change in its chemical composition. The characteristics that enable us to distinguish one substance from another are called properties.

Identify properties of matter as extensive or intensive.Identify properties of and changes in matter as physical or chemical.By the end of this section, you will be able to:

Examples of physical and chemical properties and changes