Classify each as a physical characteristic or chemical property.
-wood burns
-clay is brown
-steel wool rusts
-a paper clip is 3cm long
Wood burns - I think it is part of a chemical property because it deals with a chemical reaction from heat.
Clay is brown - It's an obvious physical characteristic because it's describing the color of the clay.
Steel wool rusts - It's an obvious chemical property because it deals with a chemical reaction between air and the steel wool.
A paper clip is 3 cm long - It's an obvious physical characteristic because it's describing the size.
I hope this helps! :)
- Wood burns: Chemical property
- Clay is brown: Physical characteristic
- Steel wool rusts: Chemical property
- A paper clip is 3cm long: Physical characteristic
To classify each statement as a physical characteristic or a chemical property, we need to understand the difference between the two.
A physical characteristic refers to a characteristic that can be observed or measured without changing the substance's identity. It includes properties like color, shape, size, density, and temperature.
A chemical property, on the other hand, describes how a substance interacts or reacts with other substances to form new substances. It involves any property that involves a change in the substance's chemical composition.
Now, let's classify each statement:
1. Wood burns: This is a chemical property. Burning wood involves a chemical reaction called combustion, in which the wood reacts with oxygen in the air to produce heat, light, carbon dioxide, and water vapor.
2. Clay is brown: This is a physical characteristic. The brown color of clay is an observable property that does not involve a change in the composition or structure of the clay.
3. Steel wool rusts: This is a chemical property. Rusting is a chemical reaction that occurs when iron or steel reacts with oxygen and moisture in the presence of an electrolyte. It results in the formation of iron oxide (rust) on the surface of the steel wool.
4. A paper clip is 3cm long: This is a physical characteristic. The length of the paper clip refers to its size, which is an observable property that doesn't involve any chemical changes.
By understanding the nature of each statement and the distinction between physical characteristics and chemical properties, we can properly classify them.