Observing Matter

Matter could be described in 2 ways: a. By their general properties b. By their unique characteristics

Properties of Matter
Physical Properties: is any measurable property, the value of which describes a physical system's state. The changes in the physical properties of a system can be used to describe its transformations. Qualitative Properties: properties of matter that is usually observed by our senses. These properties are not generally measured or quantified and are just being observed. Example: Color, odor, texture, brittleness, ductility. Quantitative Properties: properties of matter that is measures, quantified, ranged and could be assigned with a numeric value. Measurements of any particular quantitative property are expressed as a specific quantity, referred to as a unit, multiplied by a number. Example: Mass, Volume, Area, Viscosity, weight, height, temperature Intensive properties: whose value does not depend on the amount of the substance for which it is measured. For instance, the mass of an object is an extensive quantity, because it depends on the amount of that substance being measured. Density, on the other hand, is an intensive property of the substance.

Examples of intensive properties include:

temperature chemical potential density specific gravity viscosity velocity electrical resistivity specific energy specific heat capacity luster

hardness melting point and boiling point pressure ductility elasticity malleability magnetism state concentration

 Extensive properties: is a physical quantity whose value is proportional to the size of the system it describes.

Examples of extensive properties include:

energy mass particle number stiffness volume

Mass: the amount of matter contained in a body/substance. (Measured by a platform balance) Weight: is defined as being equal to the force exerted on it by gravity. (Measured by a spring balance) Volume: amount of space required by matter Density: the proportion of mass and volume (mass/volume), denser substances tend to sink and less dense ones tend to float.

Special Properties of Matter

1. Flexibility Ability to bend an object

Ex: Rubber, Plastic, Metal Rod, Wire Spring

2. Elasticity ability of a material that returns to its original shape after the stress.

Ex: Rubber band, Garter, Bubble Gum

3. Malleability ability to form a thin sheet by hammering or rolling.

Ex: Aluminum foil, Gold foils

4. Ductility the extent to which materials can be deformed

plastically without fracture. Ex. Copper wire: Being stretched to an extent until it breaks up.
5. Solubility is the property of a solid, liquid, or gaseous chemical

substance called solute to dissolve in a homogeneous solution of the solute in the solvent.

a liquid solvent to form

 The solubility of a substance fundamentally depends on the used solvent as well as on temperature and pressure.
6. Hardness is the measure of how resistant solid matter is to various kinds of

permanent shape change

when a force is applied

7. Brittleness opposite of being ductile, easily being fractured in small amount of

stress or force. Ex: Glass, Biscuits, Ceramics, Porcelain

8. Tenacity is the measure of strength.

Ex: Iron, Diamond, Platinum and Hard alloys

9. Plasticity of a material undergoing non-reversible changes of shape in response

to applied

forces. ability to be molded and they could not return to original form Ex: Clay, plastic, copper Ex: water moves up in glass tubings, water absorbed by roots, water absorbed by a sponge

10. Capillarity ability of liquid to rise easily in thin tubes or in porous materials.

11. Porosity measure of the void spaces or pores in a material, this make the material

more absorbent. Ex: Sponge, cotton, cloth, paper

12. Viscosity the resistance of a fluid to flow.

Ex: Honey is more viscous than water

13. Fluidity opposite of viscosity, the ease of flow of a liquid

Ex: Water is more fluid than honey

14. Boiling Point the temperature where a liquid turns into gas. 15. Freezing Point the temperature where a substance turns into solid or solidifies. 16. Melting point the temperature where a solid melts and turns into liquid.

Chemical Property: a property that becomes evident during a chemical reaction. This is quality that can be established only by changing a substance's chemical identity. These are properties that are observed when chemical change takes place. Also included are the properties that are observed in an atomic or molecular level.

Reactivity against other chemical substances Heat of combustion Chemical stability in a given environment Preferred oxidation state

Capability to undergo a certain set of transformations, for example molecular dissociation, chemical combination, redox reactions under certain physical conditions in the presence of another chemical substance Preferred types of chemical bonds to form, for example metallic, ionic, covalent