Name _____________________________
Period ____
Chemical and Physical Properties Lab
Station 1
Intensive and Extensive Physical Properties
1. Intensive physical properties remain constant for a sample of a substance
regardless of the amount of matter.
2. Extensive physical properties will vary depending on the amount of matter.
Examine the sample at the station. Look up the melting point and boiling point.
Describe the following properties for each in the table provided.
Property
Observations
Intensive
or
Extensive
Property
Length
(mm)
Color
Luster
(shiny or
dull)
State of
Matter at
Room
Temperature
Density
(g/cm3)
Melting
Point
(oC)
Boiling
Point
(oC)
Mass (g)
Volume
(cm3)
Observation
Intensive
or
Extensive
Volume= length X width X height
Density = mass ÷ volume
Make sure you record all units!!!
Station 2
Observe the contents of the petri dishes. Each dish contains different metals. The metals
represent elements. Knowing what you know about elements and compounds determine if
the metals inside each petri dish are representing elements, compounds, or a mixture of
elements and compounds.
A
B
C
D
Briefly explain your thought process of classification
Station 3
Look at both samples of aluminum. Write two intensive and extensive properties of the
aluminum.
Intensive
Extensive
Physical and Chemical Changes
Physical and chemical changes occur all around us everyday. It is useful to understand the
nature of these changes to help us understand the world we live in. We will be observing
several changes to determine the characteristics of a physical change and the
characteristics of a chemical change. Remember that mixtures can be separated into
substances by a physical change and that compounds can be separated into elements by a
chemical change.

What is a physical change?

What is a chemical change?
Station 4
What are some physical properties of substances?
1. Tear a sheet of paper into 7 pieces. Label each piece of paper with a different
substance name from the chart below. Place one spatula full of sand, salt, sulfur, iron,
magnesium ribbon, aluminum and copper (II) chloride onto their appropriate pieces of
paper. In the chart below, record the physical state at room temperature (solid, liquid
or gas) and color of each sample. Test the effect of a magnet by running the magnet
under the paper. Test the solubility by placing a pea-sized amount into a small test
tube and filling half-full with water. If the substance dissolves in water, it is soluble.
If it does not dissolve in water, it is insoluble. Any substance that dissolved in water
can be rinsed down the drain. Any substance that did not can be disposed of in the
trash can. Rinse your test tubes and clean your station before you move on.
Substance and
Formula
aluminum, Al
sulfur, S
copper(II)chloride
dihydrate,
CuCl22H2O
iron filings, Fe
salt, NaCl
Sand, SiO2
magnesium, Mg
Element
or
compound
Physical
State
Color
Effect of
Magnet
Solubility
in Water
Station 5
How can substances be changed?
Follow the instructions carefully and record your observations, determination of physical
or chemical change, and explanation into the table on the back of this page. Be sure to
dispose of chemicals properly as indicated in the instructions.
Burning magnesium: Do not look directly at burning magnesium. Position a watch glass near
the gas burner. Using tongs, grasp one end of the strip of magnesium ribbon and hold it in
the burner flame until the magnesium ignites. Quickly position the burning magnesium so
that the combustion product falls on the watch glass. Compare the appearance of this
product with that of the original magnesium. Record your observations. Throw the
product in the trash can. Wipe the station and turn off the gas.
Station 6
Iron-sulfur mixture
Mix the iron filings and sulfur on a clean piece of paper. Examine the mixture and test the
effect of a magnet by passing the magnet under the paper. Record your observations.
Throw the paper with the iron fillings and sulfur in the trash.
Station 7
Copper (II) chloride dihydrate and aluminum foil
Fill a 100mL beaker about one-fourth full of water. Record the temperature of the water.
Add a spoonful of copper (II) chloride. Use a stirring rod to stir the mixture until the
crystals are completely dissolved. Record your observations and the temperature of the
copper (II) chloride solution. Place a loosely crumpled ball of aluminum in the solution and
record your observations. Stir the mixture occasionally for 5 minutes. Record any
temperature changes and your observations.
Observations
Physical
(P) or
chemical
(C)
change
Explanation (see below)
Burning magnesium
Iron/sulfur
mixture
CuCl2 + water
CuCl2 + Al
Explanation:
If you wrote that you observed a chemical change, identify what you observed to
indicate a chemical change occurred. If you observed two indicators of a chemical
change, make sure you write both indicators.
If you wrote that you observed a physical change, identify what you observed to
indicate a physical change occurred.