Classify each of the listed properties of isopropyl alcohol (also known as rubbing alcohol) as physical or chemical. a. colorless b. flammable c. liquid at room temperature d. density = 0.79 g>mL e. mixes with water

Chemical properties of a substance are characteristics that become evident during or after a chemical reaction; they describe its potential to undergo changes that transform it into different substances. These properties can only be observed as the substance is changed into a new substance, and involve a chemical reaction. For instance, flammability is a chemical property, referring to a substance's ability to burn or ignite. For isopropyl alcohol, flammability is a critical chemical property, as it describes the alcohol's potential to ignite and burn when exposed to a flame.

Another example of a chemical property is reactivity with acids or bases, which could lead to the substance undergoing a chemical change, such as a color shift, bubble formation, or temperature change. Understanding chemical properties is crucial for determining how a substance may behave in different chemical contexts, which is essential for safety and use in reactions.

Physical properties are those that can be observed and measured without causing a change to the substance's chemical identity. They are the characteristics that provide a signature of a substance without altering its composition. For example, color, phase (solid, liquid, or gas), freezing point, and density are all physical properties. Isopropyl alcohol being colorless and liquid at room temperature illustrates two of its physical properties. Additionally, the density of isopropyl alcohol being 0.79g/mL at room temperature confirms another of its inherent physical properties.

Being able to determine physical properties helps us to identify substances and to make predictions about their behavior in different situations, such as how they will flow or how much space they will occupy. Understanding these properties is essential when working with materials in any scientific or engineering context.

Flammability is a term describing the ability of a substance to catch fire or ignite, indicating how easily a material or substance will burn. Flammability is an important chemical property when considering safety and use in various environments. It is especially significant for substances like isopropyl alcohol, which is known for being highly flammable. The chemical structure of isopropyl alcohol, which includes a hydrocarbon chain, is what lends it this property.

When a flammable substance like isopropyl alcohol meets an ignition source, a chemical reaction occurs, and the substance reacts with oxygen, leading to combustion. This is why substances with high flammability require careful storage away from heat or open flames and are often subject to stringent transport and handling regulations.

The state of matter is a fundamental physical property that describes the distinct forms that different phases of matter take on. The four fundamental states are solid, liquid, gas, and plasma. Isopropyl alcohol, a liquid at room temperature, exemplifies the liquid state which is characterized by a defined volume but no fixed shape, allowing it to conform to the shape of its container.

The state of matter of a substance at given conditions can provide information about its intermolecular forces and bonding. A change in state, such as from liquid to gas (evaporation), or liquid to solid (freezing), is a physical change rather than a chemical one, because the substance's underlying molecular structure does not change.

Density is a physical property that represents the mass per unit volume of a substance, often expressed in grams per cubic centimeter (g/cm³) or grams per milliliter (g/mL). It's a measure of how much 'stuff' an object has in a unit volume (mass density). The density of isopropyl alcohol being 0.79 g/mL suggests it is less dense than water, which has a density of 1 g/mL.

This physical property is crucial for identifying substances and determining their buoyancy, purity, and concentration. Density plays a pivotal role in various applications for scientists and engineers, such as designing objects to float or sink, and in everyday life, such as in cooking measurements.

Solubility is the capability of a substance to dissolve in a solvent, forming a homogenous mixture at the molecular or ionic level. It is a key physical property that varies with temperature, pressure, and the nature of both solvent and solute. For example, isopropyl alcohol is highly soluble in water, meaning that it can dissolve in water to form a uniform solution, which indicates its polarity and the presence of an OH group which assists in the formation of hydrogen bonds with water molecules.

Understanding solubility is important for practical applications like preparing solutions in laboratory settings, in the pharmaceutical industry when mixing medications, or in everyday activities such as mixing sugar in coffee. The ability to predict and manipulate solubility is fundamental to chemistry and various industrial processes.