Properties of Matter

All matter has physical and chemical properties. Physical properties are characteristics that scientists can measure without changing the composition of the sample under study, such as mass, color, and volume (the amount of space occupied by a sample). Chemical properties describe the characteristic ability of a substance to react to form new substances; they include its flammability and susceptibility to corrosion.

• physical properties – properties measured by not changing the identity and composition of the substance
• chemical properties – the way a substance may change or react to form other substances
• intensive properties – identify substances
• extensive properties – amount of substance