Which is an intensive property of a substance?
density
volume
length
mass
The correct answer and explanation is:
The correct answer is density.
Intensive properties are those that do not depend on the amount of substance present. These properties are intrinsic to the substance itself, and their values are the same regardless of how much material you have. For example, temperature, pressure, and density are all intensive properties.
Density is defined as mass per unit volume. It is an intensive property because it remains constant regardless of the size or amount of substance in the sample. For instance, the density of water is about 1 g/cm³ at 4°C, and this value stays the same whether you have a small amount or a large quantity of water. In contrast, the volume and mass of a substance are extensive properties because they depend on the amount of the substance. The more water you have, the greater the volume and mass.
Length, similarly, is an extensive property because it changes with the size of the object being measured. If you have a longer rod, its length increases, which is a characteristic of an extensive property.
In summary, while density is independent of the amount of substance and therefore is an intensive property, volume, mass, and length are extensive properties because they scale with the size or amount of the material. This distinction between intensive and extensive properties is crucial for understanding and identifying the nature of physical properties in various materials and substances.