Key Concepts: Physical & Chemical Properties

Core Definitions

• a physical property: A characteristic observed without changing the substance's identity
• a chemical property: The ability of a substance to undergo specific chemical changes
• Is flammability a physical or chemical property: Chemical
• Is melting point a physical or chemical property: Physical
• Is conductivity a physical or chemical property: Physical
• Is reactivity with acid a physical or chemical property: Chemical
• Is odor a physical or chemical property: Physical
• Is hardness a physical or chemical property: Physical
• Is the tendency to rust a physical or chemical property: Chemical
• Is color a physical or chemical property: Physical

Practice Review

• Q: Which of the following is a chemical property?
  A: Flammability
• Q: Which of the following does NOT indicate a chemical change?
  A: Melting
• Q: True or False: Chopping wood is a physical change.
  A: True
• Q: Which property describes the ability of a substance to burn?
  A: Flammability
• Q: Which of the following is a PHYSICAL change?
  A: Melting ice
• Q: A compound is defined as...
  A: Two or more elements chemically combined.
• Q: Which method is best for separating a solid from a liquid in a heterogeneous mixture?
  A: Filtration
• Q: The Law of Conservation of Mass states that:
  A: Mass is neither created nor destroyed.
• Q: What is the smallest unit of an element that retains its properties?
  A: Atom
• Q: Which is a Chemical Property?
  A: Flammability