Which statement describes a physical property?

Which statement describes a physical property?

• A. A property that involves chemical reactions
• B. A characteristic that can be observed without changing the substance
• C. A substance that changes identity
• D. Anything that does not lead to a new substance

Answer: (D)

A physical property is a trait you can observe or measure without changing the substance’s identity. Examples include color, density, melting point, state of matter (solid, liquid, gas), hardness, and odor. These properties describe how the material is now, not what it becomes, so no new substance is formed when you observe them. In contrast, involving chemical reactions describes chemical properties, because reactions involve transforming the substance into different substances. Saying a substance changes identity refers to a chemical change, not a physical property. And describing anything that does not lead to a new substance is vague and doesn’t capture the idea of observing without changing composition.

A physical property is a trait you can observe or measure without changing the substance’s identity. Examples include color, density, melting point, state of matter (solid, liquid, gas), hardness, and odor. These properties describe how the material is now, not what it becomes, so no new substance is formed when you observe them.

In contrast, involving chemical reactions describes chemical properties, because reactions involve transforming the substance into different substances. Saying a substance changes identity refers to a chemical change, not a physical property. And describing anything that does not lead to a new substance is vague and doesn’t capture the idea of observing without changing composition.