Chemical Property Chemistry Example 2

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Example 2

medium
A student places a piece of iron in water and observes it slowly forming a reddish-brown coating over several days. Is this demonstrating a physical or chemical property? Explain what is happening at the molecular level.

Solution

  1. 1
    This is a chemical property — the iron is reacting with oxygen and water to form iron(III) oxide (rust): 4Fe+3O2+6H2O→4Fe(OH)34\text{Fe} + 3\text{O}_2 + 6\text{H}_2\text{O} \rightarrow 4\text{Fe(OH)}_3.
  2. 2
    A new substance (Fe(OH)3\text{Fe(OH)}_3) with different properties is formed, confirming a chemical change.
  3. 3
    The reddish-brown color is characteristic of the new compound, not of metallic iron.

Answer

Chemical property — iron undergoes oxidation to form rust.\text{Chemical property — iron undergoes oxidation to form rust.}
Rusting demonstrates a chemical property because the iron atoms change their oxidation state and bond with oxygen to form an entirely different substance with different physical and chemical properties.

About Chemical Property

A characteristic that describes a substance's ability to undergo a chemical change and form new substances with different compositions and properties.

Learn more about Chemical Property →

More Chemical Property Examples

Example 1 easy

Define a chemical property and give three examples.

Example 3 medium

Why can flammability only be classified as a chemical property and never as a physical property?

Example 4 hard

Gold does not tarnish in air and does not react with most acids. Silver tarnishes when exposed to su

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