Is malleability an extensive property or an intensive property? Explain.
To determine if malleability is an extensive property or an intensive property, we need to understand the definitions of these terms.
1. Extensive Property: An extensive property of a substance depends on the amount or size of the sample being considered. It increases or decreases with the quantity of the substance.
2. Intensive Property: An intensive property of a substance does not depend on the amount or size of the sample and remains constant regardless of the quantity.
Now, let's examine malleability:
Malleability is the property of a material to be deformed under compression, i.e., to be able to be hammered, rolled, or pressed into a thin sheet without breaking. Examples of malleable materials include gold, aluminum, and copper.
Malleability is an intensive property. This is because malleability does not depend on the amount or quantity of the material being considered. Regardless of how much of the material is present, if it is malleable, it will still be malleable.
To determine malleability as an intensive property, one can consider the behavior of different amounts of a malleable material when subjected to a specific force or pressure. In each case, the same characteristic will be observed, namely the ability to be deformed without breaking. This property remains constant, regardless of the amount of material used.
Hence, malleability is an intensive property.