Physical & Chemical Properties
Physical and chemical properties allow us to classify matter and
identify substances (each substance had its own unique set of
physical and chemical properties). By knowing these properties
we are able to make choices for the types of materials that would
best suit a certain purpose.
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
Physical properties of a substance can be described or measured
i)
Qualitative Physical Properties – characteristics that can
be described but not measured
Example – colour, texture, state of matter
ii)
Quantitative Physical Properties – characteristics that can
be measured numerically
Example – melting point, boiling point, density
CHEMICAL PROPERTIES
Chemical properties describe how a substance behaves or
interacts with other substances.
Example – reacts with water, air, oxygen or is stable,
combustible
APPLICATIONS
1) Helium versus Hydrogen in blimps
Helium
- gas
- low density
- stable
Hydrogen
- gas
- low density
- flammable
2) Copper versus Aluminum pipes for plumbing
Copper
- brown
- metal
- flexible
- does not rust
Aluminum
- silver
- metal
- flexible
- rusts
3) Plastic wrap versus Aluminum foil for heating
Plastic Wrap
- transparent
- clings
- melts
Aluminum Foil
- opaque
- can be shaped
- heat resistant
Physical & Chemical Property Vocabulary
Property
Definition
The ability of a solid to be hammered
out or bent into different shapes
The ability of a solid to be pulled
into wires
The measure of the resistance of a
solid to be scratched or dented
The form that matter is in while at
room temperature
The ability of a substance to dissolve
in a solvent
The property of a liquid that prevents
it from flowing
The sensation caused by touching a
substance to determine its outer feel
The property that allows the
transmission of light to pass
The property the triggers four
different sense organs in the mouth
The brightness or dullness of a
substance
The property that triggers the sense
organs in the nose
The 3D characteristics of a substance
Descriptive Words
SNC 1P
Name: _________________
Physical Properties Questions
1. Using the word bank, fill in the blanks below.
amorphous
translucent
texture
sour
odour
brittle
malleability
physical state
opaque
ductility
sweet
lustre
crystalline
flexible
salty
viscosity
bitter
clarity
transparent
a) ____________________ describes an object’s ability to reflect light.
b) Substances with regular shape (e.g. table sugar) are said to be __________________,
whereas substances with irregular form (e.g. flour) are said to be
__________________.
c) Burnt, flowery, putrid, and sharp are terms used to describe an object’s ___________.
d) The four basic tastes are ______________, _____________, _____________, and
______________.
e) This property describes a liquid’s resistance to flowing: ____________________.
f) Fine, course, gritty, and silky are terms used to describe an object’s ______________.
g) ____________________ describes an object’s ability to transmit light. Objects that
transmit no light are said to be _______________, objects that allow some light to
pass through are called ____________________, and objects that allow most light to
pass through are called ____________________.
h) Solid, liquid, or gas describes a substance’s ____________________.
i) The ability of a substance to be stretched into a thin wire is called _______________.
j) Substances that can bend without breaking are called _______________, whereas
substances that break or shatter easily are called ________________.
k) The ability of a substance to be hammered into thin sheets is called ______________.
2. Name a substance that fits the description below.
a) brittle
__________________
b) hard
__________________
c) viscous
__________________
d) ductile
__________________
e) malleable
__________________
f) soft
__________________
g) opaque
__________________
h) amorphous __________________
i) shiny
__________________
j) coarse
__________________