Grade 8 → Matter and its properties ↓
Extensive and Intensive Properties of Matter
Matter is everything that occupies space and has mass. It is the physical substance that makes up everything in the universe. Understanding the properties of matter is foundational in chemistry, as it helps us determine the various characteristics and behaviors of the substances around us. These properties can be divided into two main categories: extensive properties and intensive properties. In this lesson, we will discuss these properties in depth, providing examples and illustrations to help you fully understand the concepts.
What are detailed properties?
Extensive properties are properties that depend on the amount of matter or the size of the sample being studied. In other words, these properties change when the amount of matter changes. If you have a large amount of a substance, its extensive properties will be different than if you have a small amount of the same substance.
Some common examples of unabridged assets include:
- Mass
- Volume
- Length
- Total Fee
Example of mass
Mass is a measure of the amount of matter in an object, often determined using a balance or scale. If you have a small rock and a large rock, mass is a property that will vary depending on the size of the rock.
Mass of small rock = 100 grams Mass of large rock = 500 gramsIn this example, you can see that mass depends on the size or amount of matter. As the size changes, the mass also changes, which shows the extensive nature of this property.
Example of volume
Volume refers to the amount of space a substance occupies. Consider a small bottle of water and a large jug of water. The difference in volume between the two is simply because the jug contains more water.
Volume of small bottle = 0.5 liters Volume of large jug = 2 litersAgain, this shows how a change in the amount of the substance (water) affects the volume, thus showing it to be an extensive property.
Visual representation of detailed properties
The above visual representation shows volume as an extensive property using rectangles. The larger green rectangle represents a greater volume than the smaller blue rectangle.
What are intensive properties?
On the other hand, intensive properties are properties that do not change regardless of the amount of matter. These properties are inherent in the type of matter and are independent of the size or amount of matter.
Common examples of intensive properties include:
- Density
- Colour
- Boiling point
- Melting point
- Electrical conductivity
Example of density
Density is a classic example of an intensive property. It is defined as mass per unit volume and is usually expressed as grams per cubic centimeter (g/cm3).
Density (D) = Mass (m) / Volume (V)For example, if you have one kilogram of iron and one gram of iron, the two samples will have the same density because it is an inherent property of iron.
Density of iron = 7.87 g/cm3Example of boiling point
The boiling point of a substance is the temperature at which it changes from a liquid to a gas. It is an intensive property because it does not change whether you have a teaspoon of water or a bucket of water. The boiling point of water at 1 atmosphere pressure is 100 degrees Celsius.
Boiling point of water = 100°CWhether you have 1 liter or 10 liters, water boils at the same temperature under the same environmental conditions.
Visual representation of intensive properties
The above visual representation uses circles to represent color, which is an intensive property. Regardless of size or quantity, color remains constant, represented here as red.
Comparison of extensive and intensive properties
It is important to understand the difference between extensive and intensive properties. Extensive properties depend on the size or volume of the sample, while intensive properties are independent of the amount of matter. Let us summarize it with suitable examples:
| Property | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Mass | Comprehensive | Varies according to the quantity |
| Volume | Comprehensive | Changes with the amount |
| Density | Intense | Remains constant, independent of quantity |
| Colour | Intense | Does not change with the amount |
Additional example scenarios for better understanding
Let us consider some more scenarios to reinforce these concepts.
Scenario 1: Classroom experiment with rocks
Imagine that in a classroom experiment you have a small pile and a large pile of rocks. You find that the mass of the small pile is 200 g and that of the large pile is 600 g. Here, mass is an extensive property because it varies depending on the amount of rocks.
However, when measuring the density of one rock from each pile, the students found that the density remained the same, for example, 2.5 g/cm3, indicating that density is an intensive property.
Scenario 2: Exploration with water
Suppose you have a small beaker of water and a large container full of water. Extensive properties such as mass and volume will differ between the two. If the small beaker contains 200 ml of water and the large container contains 2 liters, these measurements are a direct demonstration of extensive properties.
However, the boiling point for both remains the same - 100°C for standard atmospheric pressure. This confirms that the boiling point is an intensive property.
Conclusion
Both extensive and intensive properties are fundamental in understanding the properties of matter. Extensive properties, being size-dependent, provide information about the amount of matter, while intensive properties, being size-independent, provide information about the structure and identity of matter.
Identifying and classifying these properties enables scientists and students to understand and distinguish between different substances, and predict their behavior under different conditions. This foundational knowledge is important in a wide range of applications, from industrial processes to scientific research, and remains a core component in the study and application of chemistry.
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