The two substances you are testing are described as solid at room temperature and white. Are these physical properties or chemical properties? Explain your choice.
The correct answer and explanation is :
The two substances being described as “solid at room temperature” and “white” are examples of physical properties.
Explanation:
Physical properties refer to characteristics that can be observed or measured without changing the composition of the substance. These properties do not involve any chemical reactions or changes in the substance’s chemical structure. Instead, they describe the state or condition of the material under various circumstances. Some common examples of physical properties include color, shape, size, density, melting point, boiling point, and the physical state (solid, liquid, or gas) at a given temperature.
In this case:
- Solid at room temperature: This tells us that the substance maintains its solid form at typical room temperatures (around 20-25°C or 68-77°F). The physical state of a substance is a basic physical property. Whether a material is solid, liquid, or gas at room temperature is a direct observation of its physical state and does not change its internal structure.
- White: The color of a substance is also a physical property. It is a characteristic that can be observed visually and does not involve any change in the substance’s chemical makeup. The white color could result from the way the material reflects or absorbs light, but it does not indicate any chemical transformation.
In contrast, chemical properties describe the substance’s ability to undergo a chemical change or reaction, leading to a transformation in its composition. Examples of chemical properties include flammability, reactivity with other substances, or the ability to form new compounds when exposed to heat or other chemicals.
Thus, since the properties described (solid at room temperature and white) are observable without altering the chemical structure of the substance, they are physical properties.