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Video:Physical and Chemical Properties of Matter

with Anne Marie Helmenstine

Each phase of matter has its own chemical and physical properties. Here's a quick intro to the physical and chemical properties of matter.

Transcript:Physical and Chemical Properties of Matter

Each phase of matter has its own chemical and physical properties.

Phases of Matter

The phases of matter are:
  • Solid – which has a definite shape and volume
  • Liquid – which has a definite volume, but can change shape
  • Gas - the shape and volume of a gas can change

Phase Changes of Matter

There are several ways in which phases of matter can change from one to another:
  • Melting - melting occurs when a substance changes from a solid to a liquid
  • Boiling - boiling is when a substance changes from a liquid to a gas
  • Condensing - condensation is when a gas changes to a liquid
  • Freezing - freezing is when a liquid changes to a solid

Classes of Changes in Matter

The changes that take place in substances may be categorized in two classes:
  • Physical Change – a new substance is not produced and just the physical properties are changed. For example - phase changes, or crushing a can
  • Chemical Change – a new substance is produced with different chemical properties. For example: burning, rusting, and photosynthesis.

Solutions

Sometimes, when two or more substances are combined it results in a solution. Making a solution can produce either a physical or chemical change. When there's a physical change in a solution, the original substances can be separated from one another. If a chemical change takes place while creating a solution, the original substances cannot be separated from one another.
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