Properties of Matter

Front

What is a physical change?

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A physical change is a change that affects one or more physical properties of a substance without altering its chemical composition. Examples include breaking a cracker or dissolving salt in water.

Front

What is a chemical change?

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A chemical change is a change that results in the formation of new chemical substances. It involves a chemical reaction and the rearrangement of atoms.

Front

What is a physical property?

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A physical property is a characteristic of a substance that can be observed or measured without changing the substance's chemical identity. Examples include color, density, and freezing point.

Front

What is a chemical property?

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A chemical property is a characteristic of a substance that can only be observed during a chemical reaction. Examples include flammability and reactivity.

Front

What happens to a substance during a physical change?

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During a physical change, the substance may change its form or appearance, but its chemical composition remains the same.

Front

What happens to a substance during a chemical change?

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During a chemical change, the substance transforms into one or more different substances with new chemical properties.

Front

Is dissolving salt in water a physical or chemical change?

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Dissolving salt in water is a physical change because the salt can be recovered by evaporating the water.

Front

What is an example of a chemical property?

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An example of a chemical property is the ability of a substance to combust, meaning it can catch fire and burn.

Front

Which of the following is NOT a physical property: breaking a window, color, density, freezing point?

Back

Density is NOT a physical property; it is a measure of how much mass is contained in a given volume.

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What are chemical properties observed during?

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Chemical properties can only be observed when a substance undergoes a chemical change.