Which property is a physical property?
a) malleable 18
b) easy to digest 21
c) does not burn
d) becomes moldy quickly
The correct answer and explanation is:
The correct answer is a) malleable.
Explanation:
A physical property refers to a characteristic of a substance that can be observed or measured without changing the substance’s chemical composition. Physical properties can typically be observed with the senses, such as color, texture, shape, size, and state of matter. They also include properties that can be measured, such as temperature, density, and malleability.
Malleability is a physical property because it describes a material’s ability to be shaped or deformed, usually by hammering or rolling, without breaking. Metals like gold, silver, and aluminum are examples of materials that are malleable. This property involves a physical change in shape or form but does not alter the substance’s chemical structure.
On the other hand, options b, c, and d are not physical properties:
- b) easy to digest refers to the substance’s behavior when interacting with the digestive system, which involves a chemical change (such as breaking down into simpler molecules). Thus, this is a biological or chemical property.
- c) does not burn is related to a material’s ability to resist combustion, which is a chemical property, not a physical one. This involves a change in the substance’s chemical structure when it reacts with oxygen.
- d) becomes moldy quickly is also a chemical property because mold growth results from chemical processes involving the interaction of the substance with microorganisms and environmental factors.
In summary, malleability is a clear example of a physical property since it refers to the ability to change shape without altering the material’s chemical composition.