Page 32 - Utah Science Textbook

Physical Properties of Matter

Matter has many properties. Some
are physical properties. Physical
properties of matter are properties
that can be measured or observed
without matter changing to a
different substance. For example,
whether a given substance normally
exists as a solid, liquid, or gas is a
physical property. Consider water. It
is a liquid at room temperature, but if
it freezes and changes to ice or if it
boils and changes to steam, it is still
water. Generally, physical properties
are things you can see, hear, smell, or
feel with your senses.

Examples of Physical Properties
Physical properties include the state
of matter and its color and odor. For
example, oxygen is a colorless, odorless gas. Chlorine is a greenish gas with a strong,
sharp odor. Other physical properties include hardness, freezing and boiling points, the
ability to dissolve in other substances, and the ability to conduct heat or electricity. These
properties are demonstrated in Figure. Can you think of other physical properties?

Density
Density is an important physical property of matter. It reflects how closely packed the
particles of matter are. Density is calculated from the amount of mass in a given volume
of matter, using the formula:

Problem Solving
Problem: What is the density of a substance that has a mass of 20 g and a volume of 10
mL?
Solution:

You Try It!
Problem: An object has a mass of 180 kg and a volume of 90 m3. What is its density?

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