Chapter 4

Properties of Matter

4.1 Properties of substances

properties characteristic of the substance and
give it a unique identity
physical properties inherent characteristics of
a substance

chemical properties the ability of a substance

to form new substance either by reaction
or by decomposition
ex. chlorine Cl2
not burn but will support the combustion
of other substances
used as bleaching agent
combine with Na to form salt

4.2 Physical changes

changes in physical properties or changes in the
state of matter without changing in composition
ex. ice melting
water boiling
Pt wire is heated in a burner flame, color
changes from silvery metallic to glowing
red

4.3 Chemical changes

new substances are formed that have different
properties and composition from the original
material
ex. 1.000 g copper + 0.251 g oxygen
1.251 g copper(II) oxide

ex. water can be decomposed chemically into

hydrogen and oxygen

chemical equation a shorthand method for

expressing chemical changes

electrical

2 H2 O

energy

2 Cu + O2
reactant

2 H 2 + O2
2 CuO
product

4.4 Conservation of mass

law of conservation of mass no change is
observed in the total mass of the substances
involved in a chemical reaction
mass of reactants = mass of products
ex. water
100.0 g

hydrogen + oxygen
11.2 g
88.8 g
100.0 g

4.5 Energy
energy is the capacity of matter to do work
exists in many form: mechanical, chemical,
electrical, heat, nuclear, radiant or light energy
matter can have both potential and kinetic energy
potential energy (PE) stored energy
kinetic energy (KE) energy that matter
possesses due to its motion
energy can be converted from one form to another
electric generator

mechanical energy

electrical energy
> 90% efficiency

~ 15% efficiency

solar energy

electrical energy

in chemistry, energy is most frequently expressed

as heat

4.6 Heat: quantitative measurement

SI unit of energy: joule (J)
4.184 J = 1 cal (calorie)
1 calorie the quantity of heat energy required to
change the temperature of 1 g of water by
1oC (from 14.5oC to 15.5oC)
kilocalorie (kcal)
kilojoule (kJ)
heat capacity the quantity of heat required to
change the temperature of 1 g of the
substance by 1oC

mass of
substance

specific heat
t = heat
of substance

raise the temperature of 200 g of water by 10oC,

the amount of heat needed
(200 g)(4.184 J/g oC)(10oC) = 8.37 103 J9

ex. 4.1 If 1638 J raise the temperature of 125 g

of the solid from 25.0oC to 52.6oC,
calculate the specific heat in J/g oC.
heat
1638 J
specific heat = =
g t
(125 g)(52.6 25)oC
= 0.475 J/g oC
ex. 4.2 a metal with a mass of 212 g is heated
to 125.0oC, and then dropped into 375 g
water at 24oC. the final temperature of
water is 34.2oC. specific heat of metal?
heat gain by water = (375 g)(10.2oC)(4.184J/goC)
= 1.60 104 J
heat
1.60 104 J
specific heat = =
of metal
g t
(212 g)(125 34.2)oC
= 0.831 J/g oC

10

4.7 Energy in chemical changes

in chemical changes, matter either absorbs or
releases energy
electric energy produced in lead storage battery
light energy in light stick
heat and light are released from combustion of
fuels
electrical energy is used in electroplating of
metal
radiant energy is used by green plants in
photosynthesis

11

4.8 Conservation of energy

electrolysis of water
electrical energy is absorbed
products have higher potential energy

hydrogen is burned in O2
energy is released
product has lower potential energy

Law of conservation of energy

energy can be neither created nor destroyed,
though it can be transformed from one to another
12