Properties of Matter
Name: ____________________________
Matter is described by its properties. These can be used to identify substances. There are two basic
types of properties. In your group, read the two definitions below and decide which type of property
is being described: Physical or Chemical. Fill in the blanks with the appropriate type. (TEXT ref. p.
142)
These properties describe how a substance can change into something new when it is exposed to
other substances or energy (heat, light):
_____________________________
These properties generally describe a substance on its own: _________________________
Below is a list of descriptions of some different types of matter. With your group decide which type
of property is being described. Take turns as you work through the list. When it is your turn, explain
your response to your group. Once everyone agrees on the answer, put a P next to the description if
it is a physical property or a C for a chemical property.
iron can rust
a substance is soluble in water
sulfur melts at 115°C
sugar is sweet tasting
water can exist as a gas, liquid or solid
zinc combines with sulphur to produce zinc sulphide
hydrogen is a colourless gas
oxygen supports combustion
diamond is the hardest known substance
methanol boils at 78 °C
potassium is a soft metal
phosphorus ignites when exposed to air
a piece of chalk breaks if you try to bend it
sugar is made of tiny cubes
polished steel is shiny
a diamond can scratch glass
sandpaper feels rough
you can see through cooking oil
air can fill a football as easily as it fills a bike tire
gold is used for wiring in circuits in spacecraft
baking soda fizzes in vinegar (acetic acid)
molasses pours very slowly
copper can be hammered into many different shapes
mercury metal is a solid below 39 C
paper catches fire at 235 C
sulfur is what makes eggs smell rotten
vegetable oil is yellow
baking soda is a very fine powder
rubber coating on wires can prevent electric shocks
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Below are some names of some specific physical and chemical properties and some definitions for
those properties. With your group, identify which term belongs with which definition. You can use
your text (p. 142), but some are not listed there.
Term
ABCDEFGHI-
Lustre
Hardness
Brittleness
Ductility
Viscosity
Malleability
Solubility
Combustibility
Conductivity
Definitions
_______ the property that describes how runny or thick a liquid is
_______ the ability of an object to be hammered into a sheet
_______ a measure of resistance to being scratched or dented
_______ the ability of an object to break or shatter easily
_______ the ability to dissolve in a liquid
_______ the ability to burn
_______ the ability of substance to be stretched
_______ the ability of a substance to pass heat or electricity
_______ the ability of an object to reflect light
Changes in Matter
Matter can experience different types of change. There are two basic types of change; physical and
chemical.
A change that does not change the chemical properties of a substance is a physical change. These
changes include changes in state (melting, boiling etc.). In a physical change, no new substance is
created. The particles that make up the substance are still the same after the change.
Examples of physical changes:
stretching a rubber band, squeezing putty, sawing wood, melting ice, dissolving sugar in
water
In a chemical change, a new substance (or substances) is produced from one or more other
substances. The chemical and physical properties of the new substances are different from those of
the original substances. These changes do affect the particles that make up the substance.
Examples of chemical changes:
• water (clear liquid) can be changed into hydrogen (clear gas, combustible) and oxygen
(gas)
• copper (reddish metal) and sulfuric acid (clear liquid) produce copper sulfate (blue liquid)
On the next page is a list of various examples of change. In your group, take turns deciding whether
each one is a physical or a chemical change. Explain why you think so to your group and discuss the
answer. Once everybody agrees on which type it is, record the type next to the description (P for
physical change, C for chemical change)
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Examples of Physical and Chemical Change
melting snow
diamond cutting
running an automobile
formation of frost
oil mixing with water
when a white solid is heated, it turns brown and a brown gas is given off
hard boiling an egg
zinc and sulfur are heated resulting in the production of a white solid
burning a piece of paper
formation of clouds
skates gliding on ice
souring milk
the heating element of an electric stove glows red
wheat is ground into flour
a kettle boils producing steam
a piece of bread is toasted
a copper coated roof turns green
boiling water
decaying food
wax melting when a candle burns
the flame part of a burning candle
Evidence for Chemical Change
You should remember from last year that there are some clues that a chemical change has
happened. In discussion with your group members, list 5 clues that a chemical change has
happened.
None of these alone is a guarantee that a chemical change has happened. Most can also happen
individually in physical changes, but in a chemical change there will often be more than one of these
clues present. Some examples of physical changes that have one of these clues; mixing paint,
turning on an electric heater, turning on an electric light, taking the cap off a pop bottle. No new
substance has been created in these cases even though they each seem to show one of the clues to
a chemical change.
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