Physical Properties of Matter
5.5A - classify matter based on physical properties
Matter
- Matter is any living or non-living thing in the universe
- All objects, things, plants, people, animals, etc are made up of matter
- Anything that has mass and occupies space is matter – even the air you breathe is matter
What matter can you observe in the picture above?
Properties of Matter
Properties are characteristics used to describe something.
Properties can be used to help identify a substance.
Hair color, eye color, height, and weight are all properties that can identify a person.
What physical properties describe you?
Properties of Matter
- Physical properties of matter are used to observe and describe matter.
- Physical properties can be observed without changing the matter's composition (the make up of matter)
How does the rose smell and feel? What color is the rose? These are properties.
List of Physical Properties:
These are some of the physical properties of matter:
Appearance
Mass
Magnetism
Relative Density
Solubility
Color
Odor
State of Matter
Ability to conduct or insulate
Observations
- Some physical properties are easily observed.
- Others require a tool for measurement such as mass or temperature.
Mass
- Mass is the amount of matter in an object.
- Mass is similar to weight, but they are not the same thing.
- To measure the mass of an object, you can use a balance scale.
- Mass can be measured in grams or kilograms.
Magnetism
- Magnetism is a physical property that can be tested by using a magnet
- If an object is attracted (can be picked up) by a magnet, then it has magnetism
- Only a few metals are magnetic – iron, nickel, and cobalt, and mixtures of those metals have magnetism
State of Matter
- State of Matter is also a physical property that can be used to describe matter.
- There are 3 states of matter that you need to be familiar with:
1.Solid
2.Liquid
3.Gas
Relative Density
- Relative density is a physical property which can be used to describe whether an object will sink or float in water.
- If the object is more dense than water, it will sink.
- If the object is less dense than water, it will float.
Sink or Float?
Wooden objects will often float. Metal objects often sink.
Same size and shape, but different densities
Solubility
- Solubility refers to the ability of a substance to be dissolved in another.
- We will look at solubility in water – How much of a substance can be dissolved in water?
- Solubility depends on the amount of the substance and the temperature of the water.
Kool-Aid powder is soluble in water because it dissolves when added to water.
Warm water
- Warm water will allow some substances to dissolve more rapidly.
- Salt will dissolve in room temperature water, but dissolves faster in warmer water.
- Once dissolved, the salt is invisible, but if you taste the water, you will know it is still there!
Conduct or Insulate?
Some objects allow thermal energy (heat) or electricity to flow through easily. Other do not.
The ability to conduct heat or electricity is a physical property that can be tested.
Conductors
Conductors allow electricity or heat to flow through easily.
Metals are good conductors.
Insulators
Insulators are materials that block the flow of heat or electricity.
They are useful when keeping things hot or cold.
Rubber, wood, and plastic are all insulators.