Properties of Matter and Their Measurement: Can we see the air? No! Can we eat it? No! Then why do we consider it as a matter? Well, to answer that, we need to first understand what matter is and its various properties. Based on these properties, matter can be easily classified. Properties of matter can be classified into chemical and physical. Physical properties include odour, colour, density and may be measured or observed without affecting the substance’s identity or composition. Chemical properties include acidity, basicity, reactivity and undergoes a chemical change. The properties of matter and their measurements are discussed in detail below.

What is Matter?

Any substance with mass and volume and occupies space is referred to as matter. Matter makes up all physical structures in the universe. Atoms are also made up of microscopic particles of matter. The stuff we see and touch every day is made up of these atoms. The state of matter is a well-known characteristic of matter. The three basic states of matter are solid, liquid, and gas. The mass of an object determines how much matter it contains.

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Classification of Matter

We can classify matter at both micro and macroscopic levels. We can classify it into solid, liquid, and gas at the microscopic level. These are the three physical states of matter. We cannot convert these three states within themselves by applying temperature or pressure.

At the macroscopic level, we can classify matter into pure substances and mixtures. This classification depends on the chemical composition of various substances. Pure substances are further of two types: elements and compounds.

Elements and Compounds

Element refers to the primary stuff present in all the substances. The smaller unit of an element is the atom. Examples of elements include Nitrogen, Hydrogen, Oxygen, Carbon etc. A compound is a pure substance having more than one atom of elements linked by chemical bonds. Chemical reactions result in these bonds. Examples include water.

Mixture

Mixtures refer to the aggregate of more than one type of pure substance. The chemical identity of a mixture remains maintained. Their constituent ratio could vary, unlike in compounds. For example, sugar syrup is a mixture of water and sugar.

Physical Properties of Matter

The characteristic features that allow us to differentiate one material from another are known as properties. The physical property of matter includes density, colour, hardness, mass, volume, length, malleability, melting point, hardness, odour, temperature and electrical conductivity.

Fundamental physical quantities of matter include mass, length, time, and temperature. The size of an object is determined by its length, area, and volume. An object’s length is one dimensional, its area is two dimensional, and its volume is three dimensional in space.

Time is also a fascinating measure since it allows us to determine the duration of a process or chemical reaction. Temperature is a significant physical parameter that describes how hot or cold a body is.

Chemical Properties of Matter

Chemical properties are the properties that are measured or observed when a transformation takes place into a certain type of matter. These include flammability, toxicity, acidity, numerous types of reactivity, the heat of combustion, flammability, and the ability to rust.

Chemical characteristics are of great help when it comes to differentiating compounds.

Reactivity: The property of matter that allows it to mix chemically with other substances is called reactivity. Some materials have a high reactivity factor, whereas others have a low. Potassium, for example, is highly reactive even in the presence of water. A pea-sized lump of potassium explodes when mixed with a small amount of water.

Acidity: It’s a chemical property that specifies how well a substance reacts with acid. Compounds are formed when specific metals react with various acids. Water is formed when acids and bases mix to neutralise the acid.

Flammability: It’s an attribute of a substance that enables it to burn. Matter combines with oxygen to form a number of chemicals as it burns. Anything that burns, such as wood, is a flammable matter.

Toxicity: The degree to which a chemical element or a mixture of chemicals can harm an organism is referred to as toxicity.

Intensive and Extensive Properties of Matter

Matter also has extensive or intensive physical and chemical properties.

Intensive properties of matter: An intensive property is a bulk property that is independent of its size or volume of material. For example, pressure and temperature are both intensive properties, unaffected by the amount of matter present. Example – Pressure, temperature, density, melting point, etc.

Extensive property of matter: An extensive property is a property that depends on the amount of matter in a sample. Mass and volume are two of the many extensive properties available—for example – Mass, volume, internal energy, enthalpy, etc.

Expressing a Physical Quantity 

The value of a physical quantity is always expressed in two parts – (i) the numerical value; (ii) the unit of measurement. The weight of a box, for example, can be expressed as \(6500{\text{ g}}\) or \(6.5{\text{ kg}}\). The number \(6500\) or \(6.5\) is a value that provides no useful information. As a result, each experimental value must be represented in terms of units.

Because of the complexity in converting from one unit to another, the English system of measurement units (inches, feet, ounces, etc.) is not employed in science. The International System of Units (SI) is a measurement system whose abbreviation stands for Le Système International d’Unités in French. There are seven base units in the SI system. These base units relate to seven important scientific quantities and are also known as fundamental units. All other additional units can be deduced from these units and are known as derived units. The seven basic SI units are listed in the table below.

Physical Quantity	Symbol for quantity	Name of Unit	Symbol
Length	L	meter	m
Time	t	second	s
Mass	m	kilogram	kg
Temperature	T	kelvin	K
Luminous intensity	Iv	candela	cd
Electric current	I	ampere	A
Amount of substance	n	mole	mol

The Celsius scale \(\left( {{}^{\text{o}}{\text{C}}} \right)\) is still frequently used in our daily lives, despite the fact that the SI system’s temperature unit is Kelvin. The following is how these two units are related:
\({\text{Temperature}}\,{\text{in}}\,{\text{Kelvin}}\,{\text{K}}\, = \,{\text{Temperature}}\,{\text{in}}\,{\text{degree}}\,{\text{celcius}}\,\left( {^\circ {\text{C}}} \right)\,\, + \,273.15\)

Summary

We all know that matter is something that has mass and occupies space. Atoms, too, are made up of matter. Matter can be classified into mixtures and pure compounds. The physical property of matter includes density, colour, hardness, mass, volume, length etc. However, the chemical properties include reactivity, flammability, toxicity, acidity etc. In this age, we discussed the concept of matter and its characteristic physical and chemical properties. We also discussed intensive and extensive properties of matter along with SI units.

FAQs on Properties of Matter and Their Measurement

Q.1. What is the significance of properties of matter?
Ans: Solid, liquid, and gas are the three basic forms of matter. Depending on its physical qualities, most matter can exist in any of these states. In particular, scientists work with a wide range of materials and must comprehend the properties of matter.

Q.2. Name the property that is influenced by the amount of matter in a sample.
Ans: The property that depends on the amount of substance in a sample is known as extensive property.

Q.3. What are the features of matter that may be observed?
Ans: Observable attributes are characteristics or aspects of the matter that we can describe using our five senses. Color, texture, hardness, and flexibility are all characteristics that may be judged through our senses.

Q.4. What is the SI unit for the amount of substance?
Ans: The mole is the SI unit for measuring the amount of a substance. It is abbreviated as ‘mol’.

Q.5. Is matter’s density one of its properties?
Ans: Density, which is a physical attribute of matter, reflects the mass-to-volume relationship. The more the mass of an object, the denser it is. Density measurements are useful for differentiating substances because different substances have varying densities.

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