Extensive and Intensive
Properties
Ck12 Science
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Printed: June 7, 2015
AUTHOR
Ck12 Science
www.ck12.org
C HAPTER
Chapter 1. Extensive and Intensive Properties
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Extensive and Intensive
Properties
• Define extensive property.
• Define intensive property.
• Give examples of extensive and intensive properties
How much is twenty dollars really worth?
I agree to mow someone’s lawn for twenty dollars (it’s a fairly big yard). When they pay me, they give me a $20
bill. It doesn’t matter whether the bill is brand new or old, dirty, and wrinkled – all these bills have the same value
of $20. If I want more $20 bills, I have to mow more lawns. I can’t say, “This particular bill is actually worth more
than $20.” To have more money, I have to put in more work.
Extensive and Intensive Properties
Extensive Properties
Some properties of matter depend on the size of the sample, while some do not. An extensive property is a property
that depends on the amount of matter in a sample. The mass of an object is a measure of the amount of matter that
an object contains. A small sample of a certain type of matter will have a small mass, while a larger sample will
have a greater mass. Another extensive property is volume. The volume of an object is a measure of the space that
is occupied by that object.
The figure below illustrates the extensive property of volume. The pitcher and glass both contain milk. The pitcher
holds approximately two quarts and the glass will hold about 8 ounces of milk. The same milk is in each container.
The only difference is the amount of milk contained in the glass and in the pitcher
Intensive Properties
The electrical conductivity of a substance is a property that depends only on the type of substance. Silver, gold, and
copper are excellent conductors of electricity, while glass and plastic are poor conductors. A larger or smaller piece
of glass will not change this property. An intensive property is a property of matter that depends only on the type
of matter in a sample and not on the amount. Other intensive properties include color, temperature, density, and
solubility.
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FIGURE 1.1
Milk pitcher and glass.
The copper wire shown in the picture below has a certain electrical conductivity. You could cut off the small end
sticking out and it would have the same conductivity as the entire long roll of wire shown here. The conductivity is
a property of the copper metal itself, not of the length of the wire.
FIGURE 1.2
Copper wire.
Summary
• An extensive property is a property that depends on the amount of matter in a sample.
• Mass and volume are examples of extensive properties.
• An intensive property is a property of matter that depends only on the type of matter in a sample and not on
the amount.
• Color, temperature, and solubility are examples of intensive properties.
Explore More
Use the link below to answer the following questions:
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Chapter 1. Extensive and Intensive Properties
• Physical and Chemical Properties of Matter at https://www.boundless.com/chemistry/textbooks/boundlesschemistry-textbook/introduction-to-chemistry-1/physical-and-chemical-properties-of-matter-28/physical-andchemical-properties-of-matter-181-1817/ .
1.
2.
3.
4.
Give examples of extensive properties of matter.
Give examples of intensive properties of matter.
Distinguish between a chemical and physical property of matter.
Describe two chemical properties of matter.
Review
1.
2.
3.
4.
Define extensive property.
Give two examples of extensive properties,
Define intensive property.
Give two examples of intensive properties.
• extensive property: A property that depends on the amount of matter in a sample.
• intensive property: A property of matter that depends only on the type of matter in a sample and not on the
amount.
References
1. Courtesy of the US Mint. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:US-Series-1995-$20-Obverse.jpg .
2. Zenon Niewada (Wikimedia: Pitcherman). http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Milk_Pitcher_With_Lid
.jpg .
3. User:Inductiveload/Wikimedia Commons. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tinned_Copper_Wire_anaglyph.jpg .
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