The state of matter describes the distinct form that it takes: solid, liquid, gas, or plasma. During a chemical reaction a new substance is formed with new and different properties than the original substances.īaking soda and vinegar States of Matter An example of this is when water and vinegar are added to separate portions of baking soda, evidence of different chemical properties can be observed as carbon dioxide begins to bubble up from the baking soda mixed with vinegar but not from the portion to which water had been added.

For example, when ice melts the water can then be refrozen but when wood is burned many of its atoms leave as gas (carbon dioxide and water vapor), and the match cannot be put back together to its original state.Ĭhemical Properties: characteristics that have to do with the chemical makeup of a substance, or how it reacts with other substances. Physical properties can be changed, sometimes permanently and sometimes irreversibly. Every substance has some physical properties that are different from those of other substances (how is wood different than metal or plastic?). The melting point and freezing point are also physical properties. Physical Properties: include size, shape, color, texture etc. the match is irreversibly changing both its physical and its chemical properties through a violent chemical reaction with oxygen. There are two properties of matter which all substance are distinguished by, they are 'physical properties' and 'chemical properties.'Ī block of ice changes its physical properties as it melts, but chemically it is the same water in either state.

For example, pure sodium is a dull, soft metal that will react explosively in contact with air and water, but sodium that has reacted with chlorine is part of table salt and is very non-reactive. All atoms of any particular element will share traits of that element, but an element's properties can be changed drastically through chemical reactions. Some properties of matter are unchanging, such as the density of gold, while other properties depend on the amount of matter present (such as the mass of a golf ball compared to the mass of a bowling ball) or the properties of the mixture. The properties of matter include any traits that can be measured, such as an object's density, color, mass, volume, length, malleability, melting point, hardness, odor, temperature, and more.

Matter is anything that has mass and volume, including all atoms and all subatomic particles, but also all mixtures of compounds, all objects we encounter around us, etc.

What is a physical property of matter