Physical Property Chemistry Example 2

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Example 2

medium
A student measures the following properties of an unknown metal: density =8.96ā€‰g/cm3= 8.96\,\text{g/cm}^3, melting point =1085Ā°C= 1085Ā°\text{C}, color is reddish-orange, and it conducts electricity. Are these physical or chemical properties? Use them to identify the metal.

Solution

  1. 1
    All four properties (density, melting point, color, electrical conductivity) can be observed without changing the substance into something new, so they are physical properties.
  2. 2
    Compare with known values: copper has density 8.96ā€‰g/cm38.96\,\text{g/cm}^3, melts at 1085Ā°C1085Ā°\text{C}, and is reddish-orange.
  3. 3
    The unknown metal is most likely copper (Cu).

Answer

AllĀ areĀ physicalĀ properties.Ā TheĀ metalĀ isĀ copperĀ (Cu).\text{All are physical properties. The metal is copper (Cu).}
Physical properties serve as a fingerprint for identifying substances. By comparing measured values against reference data, unknown materials can be identified without chemical testing.

About Physical Property

A characteristic of matter that can be observed or measured without changing the substance's chemical identity, including properties such as color, density, melting point, boiling.

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Example 1 easy

Define a physical property and list four examples.

Example 3 medium

Classify each property as physical or chemical: (a) iron has a density of [formula], (b) sodium reac

Example 4 hard

Ethanol has a boiling point of [formula] and water boils at [formula]. Explain how this difference i

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