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Elements, Compounds and Mixtures
Chemical and Physical Properties.
What are Chemical Properties?
The phrase "chemical properties"
describes
the way that
an element or
compound
reacts chemically with other substances.
The chemical properties are determined by
the number of electrons in the outer shell of the
atom.
This is the same as an
elements group number in the periodic
table.
What are Physical Properties?
The physical properties
of an
element or compound (any material) are
1) Melting and boiling point. 2) Density.
3) Conduction of Electricity.
4) The size of an atom, ion or molecule, and its rate of diffusion.
5) Strength, stiffness, hardness and elasticity.
Strength is a measure
of the amount of force
needed
to pull a material apart
(called tensile strength)
or push it until it is squashed
(called compressive strength).
Stiffness is a measure
of the amount of force
needed
to change the shape of an object by bending
it.
When the force is removed
the object returns to its original shape.
This is an example of elastic
deformation.
Hardness
is a measure of the amount
of force needed
to change the shape of an object by bending
or scratching it.
When the force is removed
the object
does not return to its original
shape.
This is an example of permanent deformation.
The word hardness is also used to mean
something completely different when describing water.
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