Classify each property as physical or chemical. a. the tendency of ethyl alcohol to burn b. the shine of silver c. the odor of paint thinner d. the flammability of propane gas

Short Answer

Expert verified
a. Chemical property, b. Physical property, c. Physical property, d. Chemical property.

Step by step solution

01

Classifying Property A

To classify whether a property is physical or chemical, we need to determine if the property describes a substance's inherent characteristics without changing its composition (physical) or if it involves a substance's ability to change into a different substance (chemical). The tendency of ethyl alcohol to burn describes a chemical change as it would involve a reaction with oxygen to produce new substances; therefore, it is a chemical property.
02

Classifying Property B

The shine of silver refers to the way light interacts with the surface of the silver. This does not change the composition of the silver, thus it describes a physical property.
03

Classifying Property C

The odor of paint thinner is a quality that can be observed without changing the composition of the paint thinner itself. It describes the substance's ability to emit vapor that we can smell, indicating a physical property.
04

Classifying Property D

The flammability of propane gas is a property that indicates the substance's ability to ignite and burn, which is a chemical process leading to a new substance. Therefore, this describes a chemical property.

Unlock Step-by-Step Solutions & Ace Your Exams!

  • Full Textbook Solutions

    Get detailed explanations and key concepts

  • Unlimited Al creation

    Al flashcards, explanations, exams and more...

  • Ads-free access

    To over 500 millions flashcards

  • Money-back guarantee

    We refund you if you fail your exam.

Over 30 million students worldwide already upgrade their learning with Vaia!

Key Concepts

These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.

Classification of Properties
Understanding the classification of properties of substances is essential in the field of science. It allows us to sort properties into two main categories: physical and chemical. Physical properties are characteristics observable without changing the composition of the substance. These include color, density, and melting point. In contrast, chemical properties involve the substance's ability to undergo a chemical reaction and transform into a new substance, such as rusting of iron or the digestion of food.

To categorize a property correctly, one must observe whether or not the identity of the substance changes. For instance, if you melt ice to water, it's still H2O—a physical change. However, if you expose iron to humidity and it rusts, you've got a different substance, Fe2O3, hence a chemical change.
Chemical Property
Chemical properties pertain to a substance’s potential to undergo chemical changes that transform its identity. These properties are not easily observed without the substance changing into another substance through a chemical reaction. Examples include acidity, reactivity with water, and heat of combustion.

Take vinegar, for example; its ability to neutralize bases isn't apparent until you mix it with baking soda to observe the effervescent reaction. It's important to note that observing a chemical property generally involves initiating a chemical reaction and is often irreversible.
Physical Property
Physical properties can be observed or measured without changing the composition of the material. These include attributes such as state of matter, melting point, boiling point, solubility, and electrical conductivity. Consider ice: it's solid, clear, and cold—these are all physical properties. When ice melts to water, these properties change, but the chemical composition remains water (H2O).

Recognizing physical properties is crucial in many scientific fields, as they can often be used to identify substances and predict their behavior in different environments.
Flammability
Flammability is a chemical property describing a substance's ability to burn or ignite, causing fire or combustion. When a substance is flammable, it can react with an oxidant like oxygen to release energy in the form of light and heat. This reaction fundamentally changes the substance's composition as new products like carbon dioxide and water are typically formed.

Handling and storing flammable substances require special care to ensure safety. Being aware of a substance's flammability is essential for risk assessment and management in industries such as manufacturing, transportation, and beyond.
Inherent Characteristics of Substances
Inherent characteristics of substances refer to the fundamental properties that define their essence and behavior in various conditions. These characteristics include both physical and chemical properties that are intrinsic to the substances. They provide valuable insights into how a substance will act under different stimuli and over time.

The inherent characteristics are crucial for material scientists, chemists, and engineers when they are designing products, predicting reactions, or engineering processes. Incorporating knowledge about these characteristics is a foundation for technological advancement and safety in material application.

One App. One Place for Learning.

All the tools & learning materials you need for study success - in one app.

Get started for free

Most popular questions from this chapter

Consider the unbalanced equation for the combustion of hexane: C6H14(g) + O2(g)-CO2(g) + H2O(g) Balance the equation and determine how many moles of O2 are required to react completely with 7.2 moles C6H14.

Many home barbeques are fueled with propane gas (C3H8). What mass of carbon dioxide (in kg) forms upon the complete combustion of 18.9 L of propane (approximate contents of one 5-gallon tank)? Assume that the density of the liquid propane in the tank is 0.621 g>mL. (Hint: Begin by writing a balanced equation for the combustion reaction.)

Write a balanced chemical equation for each reaction. a. Solid lead(II) sulfide reacts with aqueous hydrobromic acid (HBr) to form solid lead(II) bromide and dihydrogen monosulfide gas. b. Gaseous carbon monoxide reacts with hydrogen gas to form gaseous methane (CH4) and liquid water. c. Aqueous hydrochloric acid (HCl) reacts with solid manganese(IV) oxide to form aqueous manganese(II) chloride, liquid water, and chlorine gas. d. Liquid pentane (C5H12) reacts with gaseous oxygen to form gaseous carbon dioxide and liquid water.

Sulfuric acid (H2SO4) dissolves aluminum metal according to the reaction: 2 Al(s) + 3 H2SO4(aq)-Al2(SO4)3(aq) + 3 H2(g) Suppose you want to dissolve an aluminum block with a mass of 15.2 g. What minimum mass of H2SO4 (in g) do you need? What mass of H2 gas (in g) can the complete reaction of the aluminum block produce?

For the following reaction, determine the limiting reactant for each of the initial amounts of reactants. 2 Na(s) + Br2(g)-2 NaBr(s) a. 2 mol Na, 2 mol Br2 b. 1.8 mol Na, 1.4 mol Br2 c. 2.5 mol Na, 1 mol Br2 d. 12.6 mol Na, 6.9 mol Br2

See all solutions

Recommended explanations on Chemistry Textbooks

View all explanations

What do you think about this solution?

We value your feedback to improve our textbook solutions.

Study anywhere. Anytime. Across all devices.

Sign-up for free