Uploaded August 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Physical Properties and Changes of Matter
Dr. DeBacco
Physical Properties
Physical properties are characteristics of matter that can be observed or measured without changing its chemical composition.
They describe the substance’s appearance, state, or behavior under physical conditions.
Physical Properties Examples
State of Matter: Solid, liquid, gas, or plasma
Water as liquid at room temperature
Density: Mass per unit volume
Gold’s density is 19.32 g/cm³
Melting/Boiling Point: Temperature at which a substance changes state
Ice melts at 0°C; water boils at 100°C
Color and Appearance: Visual traits
Copper is reddish-brown
Solubility: Ability to dissolve in a solvent
Sugar dissolves in water
Physical Properties Examples
Conductivity: Ability to conduct heat or electricity
Metals like copper conduct electricity well).
Malleability/Ductility: Ability to be shaped or drawn into wires
Gold is highly malleable
Surface Tension (liquids): Cohesive force at the surface
Water forms droplets
Viscosity (liquids): Resistance to flow
Honey is more viscous than water
Hardness: Resistance to scratching or deformation
Diamond is extremely hard
Physical Changes
Physical change- a change in a substance's form, shape, size, or state (solid, liquid, gas) without altering its chemical composition.
The substance remains the same chemically, and the change is usually reversible.
Physical Properties Specific Examples
Viscosity- a measure of a fluid's resistance to flow or deformation. It describes how "thick" or "sticky" a liquid or gas is.
Solubility- Solubility is the ability of a substance (solute) to dissolve in a solvent, forming a homogeneous mixture (solution) at a specific temperature and pressure.
Examples of Physical Changes
Grass is cut
Paper is crumpled
A piece of wire is bent
Marble is sculpted
Sheet of copper is hammered
Melting
Evaporation
Link to Lecture Slides: drive.google.com/file/d/1GTtgUOnArOfZeV4PARmOGIcAnFYYon1C/view?usp=drive_link
*Due to the description character limit the full work cited for "Physical Properties and Changes of Matter" can be viewed at... docs.google.com/document/d/1_D-Pc1UCIhZk3oWPRMYqI2mfkfJ4tTjK/edit?usp=drive_link&ouid=104237452697237972847&rtpof=true&sd=true
Physical Properties and Changes of Matter
Dr. DeBacco
Physical Properties
Physical properties are characteristics of matter that can be observed or measured without changing its chemical composition.
They describe the substance’s appearance, state, or behavior under physical conditions.
Physical Properties Examples
State of Matter: Solid, liquid, gas, or plasma
Water as liquid at room temperature
Density: Mass per unit volume
Gold’s density is 19.32 g/cm³
Melting/Boiling Point: Temperature at which a substance changes state
Ice melts at 0°C; water boils at 100°C
Color and Appearance: Visual traits
Copper is reddish-brown
Solubility: Ability to dissolve in a solvent
Sugar dissolves in water
Physical Properties Examples
Conductivity: Ability to conduct heat or electricity
Metals like copper conduct electricity well).
Malleability/Ductility: Ability to be shaped or drawn into wires
Gold is highly malleable
Surface Tension (liquids): Cohesive force at the surface
Water forms droplets
Viscosity (liquids): Resistance to flow
Honey is more viscous than water
Hardness: Resistance to scratching or deformation
Diamond is extremely hard
Physical Changes
Physical change- a change in a substance's form, shape, size, or state (solid, liquid, gas) without altering its chemical composition.
The substance remains the same chemically, and the change is usually reversible.
Physical Properties Specific Examples
Viscosity- a measure of a fluid's resistance to flow or deformation. It describes how "thick" or "sticky" a liquid or gas is.
Solubility- Solubility is the ability of a substance (solute) to dissolve in a solvent, forming a homogeneous mixture (solution) at a specific temperature and pressure.
Examples of Physical Changes
Grass is cut
Paper is crumpled
A piece of wire is bent
Marble is sculpted
Sheet of copper is hammered
Melting
Evaporation
Link to Lecture Slides: drive.google.com/file/d/1GTtgUOnArOfZeV4PARmOGIcAnFYYon1C/view?usp=drive_link
*Due to the description character limit the full work cited for "Physical Properties and Changes of Matter" can be viewed at... docs.google.com/document/d/1_D-Pc1UCIhZk3oWPRMYqI2mfkfJ4tTjK/edit?usp=drive_link&ouid=104237452697237972847&rtpof=true&sd=true
