Physical Properties - Online Tutor, Practice Problems & Exam Prep

Physical properties are measurable attributes that describe the state of a chemical compound without altering its chemical structure. These properties include color, density, mass, volume, boiling point, freezing point, melting point, and hardness. Color is perceived visually, while density determines whether a substance sinks or floats in a liquid. Mass reflects the amount of matter in an object, and volume measures the space it occupies. The boiling, freezing, and melting points are temperature-related properties indicating phase changes. Hardness measures a material's resistance to deformation or scratching. These properties are essential for identifying and classifying substances and can be observed using our senses. Understanding physical properties is fundamental in the study of matter and its interactions.

Physical Properties Concept

So Now we're going to take a look at the physical properties. Now we're going to say physical property itself is a measurable property that describes the state of a chemical compound. Here it can be observed through your senses without changing the chemical structure of a substance. So it's something that we can observe by either seeing it, touching it, smelling it, using our own faculties.

Now, some of the most common types of physical properties. If we take a look at these images, in the first one we have a color palette. So for my fellow artists, we're going to say that color is a physical property. An object appears red, an object appears yellow. These colors that are shown to us represent physical properties. In the next image, we have a beaker filled with a liquid, which we assume is water. Now one object sinks to the bottom of it, while another one floats on top of it. Now, what determines if an object is heavy enough to sink into the liquid or light enough to float on top is its density. So density is a physical property.

Next we have here an image of an anvil which is related to the idea of mass. So mass is a physical property. Next we have a cube. The space inside the cube represents its volume. Next here we have a pot which seems to be boiling or bubbling because the temperature has been raised on it. Here we'd say that physical properties would be boiling point, but it wouldn't just stop at boiling point. We can also include here freezing point or melting point. Now, boiling point we can abbreviate as BP, freezing point FP and melting point MP.

Finally, if we take a look at this last image, we have a diamond. So a diamond is known as one of the hardest natural materials in the universe, so it's one of the hardest materials you can find in nature. So when we talk about a diamond, we're just talking about the hardness of an object. And also besides hardness, we can talk about the opposite, the softness of a material. How easy is it for me to break that material versus how difficult it is? So we're talking about a scale of hardness to softness when we talk about a material.

Now these here represent the most common types of physical properties you'll come across and justice. Remember, if you can observe an object with your senses, then that can represent a physical property. Now that we've gone over the basic ideal of it, let's move on to the next video and let's tackle some questions where we have to either identify what is or isn't a physical property.

Physical Properties Example

So if we take a look here at this example question, it says which of the following represents a physical property. Now remember, a physical property deals with something we can observe with our senses, whereas a chemical property really talks about a compound and the chemical reaction it undergoes.

Now if we look at A, it says potassium metal is extremely reactive when placed in water. So we're talking about the reactivity of potassium within water. Reactivity is a chemical property. Next, rusting is a common issue with aluminum. We talk about rusting before. We say that rusting is how the surface of a metal interacts with oxygen in the air. It undergoes a chemical reaction. And since we're talking about rusting as a type of chemical reaction, this could represent a chemical property.

Neon has an unreactive nature, whether something is reactive or non reactive or unreactive, we're talking about its reactivity. So that is a chemical property. The butane in the lighter is highly flammable. Flammability is an example of a chemical property. The answer here has to be option E. Here it says mercury is a silvery liquid at 25°C. We're talking about its appearance, its color. Color is one of the first physical properties we discussed, so E would have to be my answer.

So just remember, when we talk about a physical property, it's something we can observe through the use of our senses. A chemical property has more in line to do with an object and how it undergoes a chemical reaction.

Which of the following is not a physical property?

• A. The brittleness of solid sulfur.
• B. The density of iron is 7.87 g/cm³
• C. A platinum wire glows red when heated.
• D. Osmium is a silver-colored metal.
• E. An iron bar rusts.

Here’s what students ask on this topic:

What are physical properties?

Physical properties are characteristics of a substance that can be observed or measured without changing the substance's chemical identity. These properties are inherent to the material and can be used to identify and classify substances. Physical properties include attributes such as color, odor, density, melting point, boiling point, hardness, electrical conductivity, and physical state (solid, liquid, or gas) at a given temperature and pressure.

For example, the melting point of ice is 0°C, which is a physical property because it describes a condition under which water changes from solid to liquid without altering its chemical composition. Similarly, the density of a material, which is the mass per unit volume, helps determine whether an object will float or sink in water. Observing and measuring physical properties are essential in various scientific fields, including chemistry, physics, and engineering, to understand and utilize materials effectively.

What are some physical properties?

Physical properties are characteristics of a substance that can be observed or measured without changing the substance's chemical identity. These properties include:

1. Color: The hue or shade of a substance.
2. Odor: The smell a substance emits.
3. Density: The mass per unit volume of a substance.
4. Melting Point: The temperature at which a solid turns into a liquid.
5. Boiling Point: The temperature at which a liquid turns into a gas.
6. Hardness: A measure of how resistant a solid is to various kinds of permanent shape change when a force is applied.
7. Solubility: The ability of a substance to dissolve in a solvent, such as water.
8. Conductivity: The ability of a substance to conduct electricity or heat.
9. Malleability: The ability of a substance, usually a metal, to be deformed or molded into a different shape.
10. Ductility: The ability of a substance to be stretched into a wire.
11. Luster: How shiny a substance is or how it reflects light.
12. State or Phase: Whether the substance is a solid, liquid, or gas under standard conditions.

These properties can help identify a substance and predict how it will behave in different environments. They are essential for understanding.

What is the difference between physical and chemical properties?

Physical properties are characteristics of a substance that can be observed or measured without changing the substance's chemical identity. Examples of physical properties include color, odor, melting point, boiling point, density, and state of matter (solid, liquid, gas). These properties are typically easy to observe and can often be determined without causing a chemical reaction.

On the other hand, chemical properties describe a substance's ability to undergo a specific chemical change. These properties are intrinsic to the substance and can only be observed when a chemical reaction occurs, resulting in the formation of new substances. Examples of chemical properties include reactivity with other chemicals, flammability, pH, and the ability to oxidize. To determine a chemical property, you would need to carry out a chemical reaction. For instance, you can't tell if a substance is flammable just by looking at it; you'd need to try igniting it to see if it burns.