Name ______________________________________
Date ___________________
Class Period _____________
Grade ___________
Physical and Chemical Properties Worksheet
Circle the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.
1. (Physical or Chemical or both) properties describe matter.
2. (Physical or Chemical or both) properties of a substance can be easily observed.
3. One can use their five senses to determine the (Physical or Chemical or both) properties of a
substance.
4. (Physical or Chemical or both) properties usually describe how a substance reacts.
5. (Physical or Chemical or both) properties are not as easy to observe.
6. (Physical or Chemical or both) properties can be used to identify substances.
In the blank provided, identify if the following are chemical or physical properties:
7. Oxygen is odorless and colorless
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8. Copper turns green when exposed to the environment
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9. The piece of metal is magnetic
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10. The density of water is 1.0 gram per cubic centimeter
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11. Diamonds are a very hard substance
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12. The tree is 8 meters high
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13. Sodium reacts very easily with other elements.
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14. The color of the ball is red
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15. Iron reacts with oxygen and forms rust
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161. The boiling point of water is 100 degrees C
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17. Baking soda reacts with vinegar
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18. The gas is flammable
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19. Oxygen is a gas
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20. Argon is not very reactive
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21. Nitrogen is a colorless gas
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22. The silver spoons tarnished and turned dark
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23. The piece of metal is magnetic
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24. A student’s shirt suddenly bursts into flames.
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25. Silver necklaces tarnish and turn green.
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Chapter 1 section 1 Enrichment: Describing Matter
Read the passage and study the diagram below it. Answer the questions that follow.
Degradable Plastics
A chemical property is a characteristic of a substance that describes its ability to change into different
substances. One way in which substances are changed is to be broken down into simpler substances. Materials
that are degradable can be broken down easily in the environment. Most plastics are not degradable, remaining
in the environment for a long time. But Today there are two main types of plastics that are degradable:
photodegradable (photo- means “light”) and biodegradable (bio- means “life”).
Photodegradable plastics break down into smaller pieces after exposure to a certain amount of sunlight.
Biodegradable plastics contain natural substances in addition to the plastic. The most common additive is
cornstarch. Cornstarch is made up of sugar that is broken down by microorganisms. When this happens, the
plastic breaks down into smaller pieces.
One area in which degradable plastics are being used today involves erosion control. In places where land has
been cleared, such as during highway construction, erosion control blankets made with layers of degradable
plastic and straw can be placed on the soil. The blanket keeps the soil from being washed away until new plants
have a chance to grow. Once the blanket has broken down, the plants’ roots will be able to keep the soil in
place.
1. Do you think photodegradable plastic that is buried in a landfill will break down quickly?
Explain.___________________________________________________________________
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2. Most landfills contain very little air and moisture, which many microorganisms need to survive. How do
you think these conditions affect biodegradable plastic buried in a landfill?
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3. Why do you think it is important that an erosion control blanket break down after a few weeks or months?
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