Matter: Physical and Chemical Properties (Vocabulary Flashcards)

Vocabulary flashcards covering key physical and chemical properties and changes from the notes.

Physical property

A characteristic that can be observed or measured without changing the substance’s identity (e.g., color, density, melting point).

Qualitative physical property

A physical property observed without measurement, such as color, luster, or texture.

Quantitative physical property

A physical property that can be measured with numbers, such as density, melting point, or boiling point.

Chemical property

A characteristic describing how a substance behaves in the presence of other substances, often observed when its composition changes (e.g., flammability, reactivity).

Reacts with water

A chemical property describing whether a substance chemically reacts with water.

Reacts with acid

A chemical property describing whether a substance reacts with acids.

Combustibility

The ability of a substance to burn; a chemical property.

Malleable

A physical property describing the ability to be hammered into sheets or bent without breaking.

Ductile

A physical property describing the ability to be drawn into wires.

Luster

The appearance or shininess of a surface; a qualitative physical property.

Color

The hue of a substance; a qualitative physical property.

Odor

The smell of a substance; a qualitative physical property.

Density

A quantitative physical property equal to mass per unit volume.

Melting point

The temperature at which a solid changes to a liquid; a quantitative physical property.

Boiling point

The temperature at which a liquid changes to a gas; a quantitative physical property.

Physical change

A change in matter that does not produce a new substance; changes in shape, size, state, or dissolving.

Chemical change

A change in matter that produces one or more new substances with new properties.

Tarnish

A chemical change causing a metal’s surface to discolor or dull when exposed to air or chemicals.

Gold

A soft, malleable, yellow metal (element Au) with a melting point around 1063°C; resistant to tarnishing.