Properties of Matter
What is matter?
Anything made of particles. It has mass and
volume (takes up space). Matter can be in
the form of a solid, liquid, or gas.
Physical Property- A trait of
matter that can be observed or
measured without changing the
chemical composition of the
matter.
No chemical reactions allowed!
1. Color – how the object
absorbs and reflects light
2. Texture – how the
substance looks and feels.
3. Temperature
A measure of
the average
kinetic energy
(energy of
motion) of
particles in a
substance.
4. Mass
The amount
of matter in
an object (in
g or kg).
5. Volume
The amount
of space an
object
occupies (in
mL, L, cm3,
m3, etc.)
6. Density – the ratio of mass to
volume; reflects the degree of
packing of particles in matter.
D = m/v
Lowest density element:
Hydrogen
0.0009 g/cm3
Highest density element:
Osmium
23 g/cm3
7. Luster
The way that a
substance reflects
light (metallic, non-
metallic, glassy, pearly,
dull).
The state or quality of
shining by reflecting
light; glitter, sparkle,
sheen, or gloss
8. Ductility
Ability of a
substance to
be stretched
into a wire.
9. Malleability
Ability of a
substance to
be hammered
flat and to
retain the new
shape.
10. State (phase) of matter
What is the 4th state of
matter (rare on Earth)?
11) Melting Point/Freezing
Point -
The exact temperature at
which a solid becomes a
liquid or a liquid becomes
a solid.
For H2O, what
temperature is this?
12) Boiling Point/
Condensation Point -
The exact temperature at
which a liquid becomes a
gas or a gas becomes a
liquid. EVERY PURE SUBSTANCE HAS AN
EXACT MELTING/FREEZING POINT
For H2O, what AND AN EXACT
temperature is this? BOILING/CONDENSATION POINT!
Intensive vs. Extensive
Properties of Matter
Intensive property- One
that DOES NOT depend
on the amount of the
substance present.
Examples so far:
Extensive property- One
that DOES depend on
the amount of the
substance present.
Examples so far:
Intensive properties are determined by the chemical
composition of the particles and their structure
(arrangement). (intensive ~ internal)
Extensive Properties
• Depend only on the number of particles,
not on their composition or internal
arrangement.
(extensive ~ external)
Chemical Property- A trait of matter
that can only be observed if a
substance has the property. In the
process of testing the chemical
property, the substance changes
composition if it has that property.
1) Reactivity with oxygen :
rusting (iron)
tarnishing (silver, copper, brass, etc)
2) Reactivity with water:
3) Reactivity with acids or bases:
4) Combustibility or Flammability:
5) Chemical formula (chemical composition):
What something is made of is always a
chemical property.
Ex: rust is Fe2O3
water is H2O
diamond is C
All chemical properties are
intensive. None are extensive.
• Why?
• Because chemical properties never
depend on how much of a substance is
present, but only on what kind of particles
make up the substance.
What is a Characteristic
Property?
A characteristic property is
- a distinctive property that helps you
determine the identity of a material.
Properties that ARE characteristic:
Properties that are NOT characteristic:
Take out your notes from
yesterday…
• A few more physical properties that have
to do with today’s lab activity…….
13. Hardness
MOH’S HARDNESS SCALE Measure of
10 Diamond how easily a
6.5 Ceramic
5.5 Glass
material is
3.5 Penny scratched.
2.5 Fingernail
1 Talc
MOH’S HARDNESS SCALE What is the
10 Diamond hardness of
6.5 Ceramic
a material
5.5 Glass
3.5 Penny
that
2.5 Fingernail scratched
1 Talc your
fingernail but
not a penny?
The color left
14. Streak behind when
a material is
rubbed
against a
porcelain
plate
(warning:
streak can
be white).
14. Shape (the shape of
crystals is called “habit”).
Some common crystal
shapes/habits.
Cubic Octahedral
Rhombohedral
Amorphous
Which are better
characteristic properties?
Intensive properties,
or
Extensive properties?
Intensive properties make the
best characteristic properties
because…
Intensive properties are determined
by the composition and structure
of matter. They never change!
