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

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.