Which option is an example of a chemical property? A. boiling point B. ability to react with oxygen C. color D. density
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
Correct Answer: B. Ability to react with oxygen
Explanation:
Chemical properties describe a substance’s potential to undergo chemical changes—that is, changes that result in the formation of new substances with different compositions and properties. These properties are only observed when a substance is involved in a chemical reaction.
Option B, ability to react with oxygen, is an example of a chemical property. This describes how a substance behaves when exposed to oxygen, such as iron rusting or wood burning. In both cases, the original material undergoes a transformation and forms a new substance—iron oxide (rust) or carbon dioxide and ash in the case of burning. These are chemical changes, and the ability to undergo these changes is what defines a chemical property.
In contrast, the other options describe physical properties:
- A. Boiling point is a physical property because it describes the temperature at which a substance changes from liquid to gas. This change is physical, not chemical; the substance remains the same (e.g., water is still H₂O before and after boiling).
- C. Color is also a physical property. It can be observed without changing the substance’s composition. For example, copper has a reddish color, and observing that color doesn’t alter the metal.
- D. Density is the ratio of mass to volume and is likewise a physical property. It helps to identify substances but does not involve any chemical transformation.
In conclusion, chemical properties relate to how a substance reacts with others and whether it changes its identity during a reaction. Among the given options, only the ability to react with oxygen fits this definition, making option B the correct answer.
