Properties of Matter
Lesson 7
Properties that Define
Matter
Substances are defined by their Properties.
A different word for properties is
characteristics.
 You use physical properties when you
describe a friend. For example you may talk
about the person’s hair colour, eye colour,
and height.


Observations are pieces of information we
collect as we use our senses of sight, touch,
hearing taste and smell.
We will never use TASTE in the lab.
 Observations can be made using several
senses. Sight, Smell, Touch, Taste and
hearing.

What is a physical
property?

A characteristic or description of a substance
that may help to identify it. Physical
properties observed by the senses are in the
following table
Colour
Texture
Colourless, Fine,
white,
course,
black
smooth,
gritty
Odour
Clarity
Odourless, Clear,
spicy,
cloudy,
sharp,
opaque
burnt,
Taste
Sweet,
sour, salty,
buttery
Using observations is important in science
and daily life.
Automobile mechanics
 SEE a car’s oil level
 HEAR how the engine is running
 SMELL what is happening in the engine
compartment

Qualitative properties

Qualitative properties describe how
something appears, sounds, or smells. A
qualitative property might also explain how
flammable or reactive a substance is.
Qualitative properties are useful for some
things, but not for others.
 People such as Engineers must know the
exact properties of the materials they use.
Imagine if an engineer made a bridge of
steel that was not strong enough, or a laptop
computer out of plastic that melted when the
computer heated up!

Quantitative properties

Quantitative properties use numbers to
record exact measurements. “Quantity”
refers to a number and a unit such as 25 mL
Properties of matter
Properties of Matter
Qualitative
Properties
Quantitative
Properties
Example: The
liquid is warm
Example: The liquid is a
45 ° C
Physical Properties

-A physical property describes a
characteristic of a substance that can be
observed or measured without changing
the composition of matter.

Example: Melting Point, Boiling Point

When water freezes it expands due to a
special bonding between water molecules.


Larger volume with the same mass = Less
dense
This is why ice floats
Observing Physical
Properties
Property
Description
Examples
Colour
and
lustre
The light the
substance reflects
gives it colour and
lustre (shine)
The names for
some
substances, such as
gold,
are also the names
of colours. Gold
has lustre; concrete
is dull
What it looks like
Observing Physical
Properties
Property
Conductivity
Description
Examples
Conductivity is the
ability
of a substance to
conduct electricity or
heat. A
substance that
conducts
electricity or heat is
called a conductor. A
substance with little or
no conductivity is an
insulator.
Most metals are good
conductors. Copper is
a very good
conductor of
electricity and so is
used to make electric
wires. Styrofoam®
and glass are
insulators.
What it looks like
Property
Description
Density Density is the
Examples
The density of
amount of
pure water is 1
mass in a given g/mL.
volume of
The density of
a substance.
gold is 19 g/mL.
D = m/v
Water is denser
than oil, but
gold is denser
than water.
What it looks like
Observing Physical
Properties
Property
Ductility
Description
Any solid
that can be
stretched into
a long wire is
said to be
ductile.
Examples
Copper is a
common
example of a
ductile
material.
What it looks like
Observing Physical
Properties
Property
Hardness
Description
Hardness is a
substance’s
ability to resist
being scratched.
Hardness is
usually measured
on the Mohs
hardness scale
from
1 to 10.
Examples
The mineral talc is
the softest
substance on the
Mohs hardness
scale (1). Emerald
is quite hard (7.5).
Diamond is the
hardest
(10).
What it looks like
Observing Physical
Properties
Property
Description
Examples
Malleability
A substance
that can be
pounded or
rolled into
sheets is said to
be malleable.
Aluminum foil
is an example of
a malleable
substance.
Metals such as
gold and tin are
also malleable.
What it looks like
Observing Physical
Properties
Property
Viscosity
Description
Viscosity is
the
resistance
of a fluid to
flow.
Examples
Honey has a
high
viscosity
Compared to
water.
What it looks like
Practical applications

The Viscosity of oil keeps engines running.
The numbers on containers of engine oil
give the oil’s viscosity.

Ideally, oil should be thin enough to flow
easily when an engine is cold. But it needs
to remain thick enough to protect an engine
when it is hot.

Thicker oils can handle higher temperatures
before the oil is chemically broken down and
does not function properly.
The lower the number, the thinner the oil and
the easier it flows.
 You need thin oil in the winter during cold
temperatures because the oil still needs to
be able to flow when the engine is cold.
 Many cars use multi grade oil. These oils are
effective over a wide range of temperatures.

Physical Properties - Lab