Which type of property—intensive or extensive—does not depend on the amount of substance present?

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the difference between intensive and extensive properties: Intensive properties do not depend on the amount of substance, while extensive properties do.
2. Identify examples of intensive properties: These include density, boiling point, and color, which remain the same regardless of the quantity of the substance.
3. Identify examples of extensive properties: These include mass, volume, and total charge, which change when the amount of substance changes.
4. Recall that intensive properties are useful for identifying substances because they are characteristic of the material itself, not the amount.
5. Conclude that the type of property that does not depend on the amount of substance present is an intensive property.

Key Concepts

Intensive Properties

Intensive properties are characteristics of a substance that do not change regardless of the amount of the substance present. Examples include temperature, density, and boiling point. These properties are intrinsic to the material itself and are useful for identifying substances.

Extensive Properties

Extensive properties are characteristics that do depend on the amount of substance present. Examples include mass, volume, and total energy. These properties change when the size or quantity of the material changes, making them less useful for identifying substances.

Difference Between Intensive and Extensive Properties

The key difference between intensive and extensive properties lies in their dependence on the quantity of material. Intensive properties remain constant regardless of the amount, while extensive properties vary with the size of the sample. Understanding this distinction is crucial for classifying and analyzing substances in chemistry.