Physical Properties Physical Properties Characteristics of a material

Physical Properties

Physical Properties • Characteristics of a material that can be observed or measured without changing the composition of the substances in the material.

• • Examples of Physical Properties Viscosity Conductivity Malleability Hardness Melting point Boiling point Density

Viscosity • The resistance of an object to flow. • Usually… – Thick liquids are more viscous and thin liquids are less viscous. – Heating a liquid makes it less viscous. • Which is more viscous, vinegar or corn syrup?

Conductivity • A material’s ability to allow heat/electricity to flow. • What types of materials have high conductivity? • What types of materials have low conductivity?

Malleability • The capability of a substance to be shaped by beating with a hammer or by the pressure of rollers Highly malleable substances: copper, brass, silver, & bronze

Hardness • The resistance of a metal to be scratched • For example, a kitchen knife can scratch a metal sheet of copper. – Stainless steel is harder than copper

Melting Point • The temperature at which a substance changes from a solid to a liquid. • Remember, the melting point of ice is O°C

Boiling Point • The temperature at which a liquid changes into a gas. • Remember, the boiling point of water is 100°C • Is the boiling point of a substance other than water the exact same as water’s boiling point?

Density • Every substance has a unique density, which can determine the purity of a substance. • The density of water is 1. 00 g/ml • The density of Sulfur is 2. 07 g/ml

Formulas for Calculating Density • D = M/V • V = M/D • M = D*V • Remember, Density is measured in units of g/ml or g/cm 3

What can physical properties be used for? • Identify unknown materials • Separate substances in a mixture • Choose the best material suited to a specific purpose

Two common separation methods • Filtration – A process that separates materials based on the size of their particles. • Distillation – A process that separates materials based on their boiling points.

Just Plain Fun • think about density