Science Notes on Physical and Chemical Properties

PHYSICAL PROPERTY

Definition: A feature or characteristic of matter which can be observed without changing the identity of the matter

Examples:ColorDensityConductivity –thermal and electrical

SmellMalleabilityMelting Point

TasteDuctilityBoiling Point

TextureSolubilityMagnetism

Malleability -how well something can be flattened or stretched without breaking

Metals tend to be malleable – example is gold and copper

Wood and glass are NOT malleable

Ductility -the ability to be stretched into a wire

Solubility -how well one material dissolves in another material. (Insoluble means cannot dissolve)

measured by the amount of solute that can dissolve in 1000mL of water

Things that affect solubility:

  1. Temperature – as temperature increases so does the rate of dissolving
  2. Stirring – speeds up dissolving
  3. Surface Area - smaller pieces/particles – dissolve faster that large pieces of material
  4. Amount of solute – greater amounts of solute require longer times to dissolve

Solute -the chemical being dissolved: the material you add to a solvent

Solvent -a chemical that dissolves things: the material in which you add a solute

Examples:Chocolate mile – the syrup is the solute and the mile is the solvent

Tea – the tea leaves are the solute and the hot water is the solvent

Magnetism -how well something sticks to a magnet

ConductivityThere are 2 kinds

  1. Thermal Conductivity – how well heat travels through a substance
  2. Electrical Conductivity – how well electricity travels through a substance

Melting Pointthe point at which a solid becomes a liquid

Boiling Pointthe point at which a liquid becomes a gas

CharacteristicA feature of matter that is specific to the substance and does NOT change with the amount

Propertyof substance…example…density, melting point and boiling point are characteristic properties

CHEMICAL PROPERTIES

Definition: How one thing reacts with another

Examples:

  1. Flammability – how well something reacts with oxygen to produce heat/flame
  2. Reactions with acid – how well something reacts with an acid. Main reaction with and acid results in bubbling. When an acid reacts with another substance, usually hydrogen gas (which is highly explosive) is released
  3. Other Reactions – include heat being released, bubbling, strong odor, smoke, flame, change of color, etc.
  4. Non-Reactivity – when something fails to react…example…platinum dropped in acid has no reaction…nothing happens. Even when held into a flame, platinum has no reaction

** Main Point to Remember about Chemical Reactions…

  • They always produce a new substance – totally different that the substance you started with
  • Most chemical reactions cannot be reversed

Characteristic Property – Can be Physical or Chemical

  • Something unique to a substance – doesn’t matter how much or how little the sample of matter is
  • Chemical characteristic property (of sodium) = sodium ignites when in contact with water

PHYSICAL CHANGE

  • The appearance may change, but you still have the same substance as before – can be reversed and no energy is produced
  • Example – Tear a piece of paper into 10-15 pieces. The shape and size have changed, but its still paper
  • Example – Change of state = physical change…add energy to ice and you get a liquid…add more energy and you get a gas…all physical changes as it is still water
  • Example – Dissolving things is a physical change…salt in water will temporarily mix then separate out if left standing…can be separated back into water and salt

CHEMICAL CHANGE

  • A change that occurs when materials react or are broken into different materials
  • In a chemical change the physical appearance changes and you have a different substance than what you started out with
  • BOTH physical and chemical properties may change
  • Energy may be produced or absorbed
  • Usually chemical changes cannot be reversed unless you make another chemical change