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Quizzes > Science > Chemistry

Master Physical and Chemical Properties: Take the Quiz!

Think you can distinguish physical or chemical properties? Dive in now!

Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art illustration for quiz on physical and chemical properties on sky blue background

This quiz helps you tell physical vs chemical properties apart with quick questions on density, odor, flammability, and more. Use it to check what you know before a test, then keep going with our properties practice set and the changes of matter quiz .

Which of the following is a physical property?
Flammability
Color
Reactivity
pH
Physical properties can be observed or measured without changing the chemical identity of a substance. Color, density, melting point, and solubility are common examples. Flammability and reactivity require a chemical change to observe. .
Which property measures mass per unit volume of a substance?
Density
Malleability
Solubility
Viscosity
Density is defined as the mass of a substance divided by its volume (mass/volume). It is an intensive physical property used to identify substances. The higher the density, the heavier the material for a given volume. .
Which term describes a substance changing from solid to liquid?
Melting
Condensation
Sublimation
Vaporization
Melting is the phase transition where a solid absorbs heat and becomes a liquid at its melting point. It's a physical change because the chemical identity remains the same. Heat energy breaks the rigid structure but does not form new substances. .
The ability of a substance to be hammered into thin sheets is called what?
Elasticity
Malleability
Ductility
Viscosity
Malleability is a physical property describing how a material can be deformed under compressive stress, such as hammering into thin sheets. Metals like gold are highly malleable. This property is observed without any chemical change. .
Which characteristic refers to how a substance appears to the eye, such as red or blue?
Combustibility
Physical property
Opacity
Reactivity
Color is an observable physical property since it can be determined without altering the chemical structure. Combustibility and reactivity require a chemical reaction to be tested. Physical properties are generally classified as intensive or extensive. .
Which of the following is an extensive property?
Melting point
Mass
Temperature
Density
Extensive properties depend on the amount of matter present. Mass and volume are classic extensive properties. Intensive properties, like density and temperature, do not change with sample size. .
Which property is measured directly with a ruler or tape measure?
Volume
Conductivity
Length
Temperature
Length is a physical property measurable by directly comparing an object to a standard unit using rulers or tape measures. Volume may be derived but is not measured directly with a ruler. Temperature requires a thermometer. .
Which of these is an example of a physical change?
Burning wood
Ice melting
Iron rusting
Baking soda reacting with vinegar
Melting ice is a physical change because the water molecules remain H?O and no new substances form. Rusting, combustion, and acid - base reactions are chemical changes and produce new chemical substances. .
Flammability is an example of what type of property?
Physical property
Extensive property
Intensive property
Chemical property
Flammability describes a substance's ability to burn in the presence of oxygen, which is a chemical property because it requires a chemical reaction. Intensive or extensive classifications relate to quantity, not reactivity. .
Rusting of iron is an example of what kind of change?
Physical change
Chemical change
Phase change
Nuclear change
Rusting is the oxidation of iron in the presence of water and oxygen, forming iron oxide. It changes the chemical composition and produces a new compound, so it's a chemical change. .
Mixing baking soda and vinegar produces carbon dioxide gas. This is an example of:
Dissolution
Filtration
Chemical change
Physical change
When baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) reacts with acetic acid, it forms carbon dioxide gas, water, and sodium acetate. New substances are formed, indicating a chemical change. .
Which of these is a chemical property of metals?
Density
Reactivity with acids
Malleability
Conductivity
Reactivity with acids involves a chemical reaction producing hydrogen gas and a salt. Conductivity, malleability, and density are physical properties. Chemical properties describe how substances interact or change. .
Tarnishing of silver indicates which type of change?
Physical change
Phase change
Chemical change
Physical property change
Tarnishing involves silver reacting with sulfur compounds in the air to form silver sulfide. The chemical composition changes, so it's a chemical change. Physical property changes do not form new substances. .
Combustion of propane in a grill is classified as:
Endothermic phase change
Physical change
Chemical change
Nuclear reaction
Combustion is a chemical reaction between propane and oxygen producing carbon dioxide, water, heat, and light. New chemical substances form, indicating a chemical change. It's exothermic, not a phase change. .
The decomposition of hydrogen peroxide releases oxygen gas. Which property does this illustrate?
Extensive property
Chemical property
Intensive property
Physical property
The generation of oxygen gas via hydrogen peroxide decomposition is a chemical reaction, so it's a chemical property. Intensive and extensive properties describe state but not reactive behavior. .
Which term refers to a substance's tendency to undergo chemical reactions with water?
Solubility
Reactivity
Viscosity
Boiling point
Reactivity measures how readily a substance undergoes a chemical reaction, such as with water. Solubility and boiling point are physical properties, and viscosity describes resistance to flow. .
Which of the following is an intensive property?
Energy
Volume
Density
Mass
Intensive properties do not depend on the amount of substance; density and temperature are examples. Mass and volume are extensive properties since they change with sample size. .
Which pair both represent chemical properties?
Malleability and ductility
Density and color
Melting point and boiling point
Flammability and reactivity
Chemical properties describe how a substance interacts to form new substances. Flammability and reactivity involve reactions, whereas density, color, malleability, melting, and boiling points are physical. .
Which technique separates mixtures based on differences in boiling points?
Chromatography
Filtration
Distillation
Centrifugation
Distillation relies on boiling point differences to vaporize and condense components separately. Filtration and centrifugation separate by particle size or density, while chromatography uses affinity differences. .
Photosynthesis in plants converting CO? and H?O into glucose and O? is:
Nuclear change
Physical change
Phase change
Chemical change
Photosynthesis breaks bonds in reactants and forms new chemical bonds in products, altering chemical composition. New substances (glucose, oxygen) form, so it's a chemical change. .
Why is the dissolving of sugar in water considered a physical change?
It generates gas
It changes state
It produces heat
It retains its chemical structure
When sugar dissolves, the molecules disperse but remain chemically unchanged. No new substances form, marking a physical change. Heat production or gas evolution would indicate chemical reactions. .
Sublimation, where a solid becomes a gas without passing through liquid, is classified as:
Phase reaction
Nuclear reaction
Physical change
Chemical change
Sublimation is a physical phase transition. It involves energy change but no alteration of chemical identity. Chemical changes would produce new substances. .
A material shows a shiny metallic luster and is malleable but reacts violently with water to produce hydrogen gas. Which statement correctly classifies these observations?
Luster and malleability are physical; reaction with water is chemical
All are chemical properties
Luster is physical; malleability and reaction are chemical
All are physical properties
Luster and malleability describe appearance and mechanical behavior, both physical properties. The violent reaction with water produces hydrogen gas, changing chemical identity, so it's a chemical property. .
Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) measures heat flow in materials. Which property does DSC directly analyze to distinguish chemical reactions from physical transitions?
Color change
Volume change
Mass change
Heat of reaction or transition
DSC measures how much heat is absorbed or released by a sample as it is heated or cooled. Exothermic or endothermic peaks correspond to chemical reactions or physical transitions like melting. Mass and volume changes are not directly measured by DSC. .
When characterizing a novel compound, which combination of observations would most conclusively indicate a chemical change after heating?
Release of gas and formation of new solid residues
Shift in melting point only
Increased solubility in water only
Change in color and shape only
Gas evolution and new solid substances indicate bond breaking and new product formation, hallmarks of chemical change. Color or melting point shifts alone can occur in physical processes or mixtures. Solubility changes are not definitive without new products. .
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Study Outcomes

  1. Understand Physical vs Chemical Properties -

    Explain the key distinctions between physical properties (such as density) and chemical properties (such as flammability) to build a solid foundation.

  2. Differentiate a Physical or Chemical Property -

    Judge whether a specific characteristic (e.g., color change, reactivity) qualifies as a physical or chemical property with confidence.

  3. Identify Density as a Physical Property -

    Recognize density's role in defining physical properties and describe how it influences material behavior.

  4. Classify Flammability as a Chemical Property -

    Determine why flammability is a chemical property and illustrate how it reflects a substance's reactive nature.

  5. Analyze Physical and Chemical Changes -

    Apply your knowledge to classify real-world transformations as physical or chemical change accurately.

  6. Apply Learning to Everyday Examples -

    Use everyday scenarios to test your understanding and reinforce the difference between physical and chemical properties in practical contexts.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Defining Physical vs. Chemical Properties -

    Physical properties, such as density and melting point, can be observed or measured without altering a substance's chemical identity. In contrast, chemical properties describe a substance's ability to undergo chemical changes like combustion or oxidation. According to the American Chemical Society, a quick test is to ask whether the change produces a new substance: if yes, it's chemical; if no, it's physical.

  2. Density (ϝ = m/V) as a Physical Property -

    Density is defined by the formula ϝ = m/V and is always a physical property because it involves mass and volume without changing identity. For example, water's density (1 g/cm³) helps predict buoyancy and is widely taught on MIT OpenCourseWare. A handy mnemonic is "Diva D=m/V," where "Diva" reminds you that density is a diva - it stands always unchanged during physical transformations.

  3. Flammability as a Chemical Property -

    Flammability, or a substance's ability to burn in the presence of oxygen, is a classic chemical property because it results in new compounds (like CO₂ and H₂O). The Royal Society of Chemistry emphasizes that testing for flammability involves observing a reaction - ignition and combustion - rather than simple observation. Remember: if you light it and it transforms, it's chemistry in action.

  4. Physical vs. Chemical Changes -

    Physical changes, such as melting ice or dissolving salt in water, alter a substance's form but not its composition, while chemical changes like rusting iron or baking a cake form new substances. According to Britannica, the key is observing whether bonds break or form; if they do, you've observed a chemical change. A quick tip: "melting and freezing are fancy but still physical," whereas "bubbling and color change often signal chemical magic."

  5. Practical Identification Tips -

    When tackling the physical and chemical properties quiz, practice by classifying everyday items to sharpen your skills. Ask questions like "Is density physical or chemical?" and "Is flammability a chemical or physical property?" Use the "Look-Listen-Smell" approach from Khan Academy - observe physical appearance, note energy changes (heat, light), and detect new odors to decide if a chemical reaction occurred.

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