PHYSICAL PROPERTIESOF MATTER

Physical Property*: can be observed or measured without changing the matter’s identity.

EXAMPLES OF PHYSICAL PROPERTIES Magnetism Ability to conduct

electric current Strength Flexibility Color Shape

Odor Weight Volume Texture State Density

Density*: the amount of matter in a given space, or volume.

A golf ball and a ping pong ball have similar volumes, but a golf ball has more mass than a ping pong ball does so the golf ball has more density.

Density is a physical property.

Solving for Density:Density = Mass

Volume

Densities of Common SubstancesSubstance Density(g/

cm )Substance Density

(g/cm )Helium (gas)

0.000001663

Zinc (solid)

7.13

Oxygen (gas)

0.001331 Silver (solid)

10.50

Water (liquid)

1.00 Lead (solid)

11.35

Pyrite (solid)

5.02 Mercury (liquid)

13.55

3 3

A block of pine wood has a mass of 120 g and a volume of 300cm. What is the density of the wood?Will this block of pine float in a pool of water? Why or why not?

3

Answer:0.4g/cm

It will float because it is less dense than water

3

A sample of metal has a mass of 3,623 grams and a volume of 508 cm. What metal is it?

3

Answer:Zinc

Physical Change*: a change that affects one or more physical properties of a substance.

Examples of physical change: Freezing water to ice

Ice is still water Sanding a piece of wood

Saw dust is still wood Dissolving sugar in water

When water is evaporated, the sugar remains

More examples: Breaking Melting Freezing Cutting Crushing Dissolving

Physical changes do not change the identity of the matter involved. A stick of butter can be melted and poured on popcorn and still be called butter. Although the shape has changed, butter is still butter.

What physical property do the following substances have in common? Water, oil, mercury and alcohol?

Answer:They are all liquids

Observe your sugar cube.

Write down three physical properties you observe.

Write three things you could do to the sugar cube to cause it to undergo a physical change.