Examples of Physical Properties of Matter - Comprehensive List

Electricity
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This is an extensive list of physical properties of matter. These are characteristics that you can observe and measure without altering a sample. Unlike chemical properties, you do not need to change the nature of a substance to measure any physical property it might have. 

You may find this alphabetical list to be especially useful if you need to cite examples of physical properties.

A-C

  • Absorption
  • Albedo
  • Area
  • Brittleness
  • Boiling point
  • Capacitance
  • Color
  • Concentration

D-F

  • Density
  • Dielectric constant
  • Ductility
  • Distribution
  • Efficacy
  • Electric charge
  • Electrical conductivity
  • electrical impedance
  • Electrical resistivity
  • Electric field
  • Electric potential
  • Emission
  • Flexibility
  • Flow rate
  • Fluidity
  • Frequency

I-M

  • Inductance
  • Intrinsic impedance
  • Intensity
  • Irradiance
  • Length
  • Location
  • Luminance
  • Luster
  • Malleability
  • Magnetic field
  • Magnetic flux
  • Mass
  • Melting point
  • Moment
  • Momentum

P-W

  • Permeability
  • Permittivity
  • Pressure
  • Radiance
  • Resistivity
  • Reflectivity
  • Solubility
  • Specific heat
  • Spin
  • Strength
  • Temperature
  • Tension
  • Thermal conductivity
  • Velocity
  • Viscosity
  • Volume
  • Wave impedance

Physical vs. Chemical Properties

Chemical and physical properties are related to chemical and physical changes. A physical change only alters the shape or appearance of a sample and not its chemical identity. A chemical change is a chemical reaction, which rearranges a sample on a molecular level.

Chemical properties encompass those characteristics of matter that can only be observed by changing the chemical identity of a sample, which is to say by examining its behavior in a chemical reaction. Examples of chemical properties include flammability (observed from combustion), reactivity (measured by readiness to participate in a reaction), and toxicity (demonstrated by exposing an organism to a chemical).

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Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. "Examples of Physical Properties of Matter - Comprehensive List." ThoughtCo, Feb. 16, 2021, thoughtco.com/physical-properties-of-matter-list-608342. Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. (2021, February 16). Examples of Physical Properties of Matter - Comprehensive List. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/physical-properties-of-matter-list-608342 Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. "Examples of Physical Properties of Matter - Comprehensive List." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/physical-properties-of-matter-list-608342 (accessed March 29, 2024).