Brown G-Chem 14e: Exercise 1.19 Page 1 of 1
Exercise 1.19
In the process of attempting to characterize a substance, a chemist makes the following
observations: The substance is a silvery white, lustrous metal. It melts at 649 C and boils at
1105 C. Its density at 20 C is 1.738 g/cm
3
. The substance burns in air, producing an intense
white light. It reacts with chlorine to give a brittle white solid. The substance can be pounded
into thin sheets or drawn into wires. It is a good conductor of electricity. Which of these
characteristics are physical properties, and which are chemical properties?
Solution
The substance is a silvery white, lustrous metal—physical property.
It melts at 649 C and boils at 1105 C—physical properties.
Its density at 20 C is 1.738 g/cm
3
—physical property.
The substance burns in air, producing an intense white light—chemical property.
It reacts with chlorine to give a brittle white solid—chemical property.
The substance can be pounded into thin sheets or drawn into wires—physical property.
It is a good conductor of electricity—physical property.
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