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In chemistry, any property of a substance that does not depend on the amount of substance present is called intrinsic. These properties are qualities inherent to the type and form of matter, and depend mainly on the chemical composition and structure of the substance in question. The intrinsic properties allow to identify and differentiate some substances from others. These properties are very important, since they provide information about the specific characteristics of all substances. Intrinsic properties are classified into physical and chemical properties.
physical properties
The physical properties are independent of the amount of substance that is analyzed and its changes do not modify the nature of the substances . Some physical properties are organoleptic, density, boiling point, melting point, solubility, conductivity, ductility, malleability and hardness, among others.
Below we will briefly explain each of those named.
Organoleptic . They are those that our senses perceive, such as color, smell, texture, taste, etc.
Density. It is the relationship between the mass of a substance and its volume.
boiling point . It is the temperature at which a substance changes from a liquid state to a gas state. For example, the boiling point of water is 100 °C.
melting point . It is the temperature at which a substance changes from a solid state to a liquid state. For example, the melting point of copper is 1,085 °C.
solubility . It is defined as the property that some substances have to dissolve in a liquid at a certain temperature, giving rise to a solution. For example, enamel is soluble in acetone, although it is insoluble in water.
Conductivity. It is the property that is generated by the interaction of materials with electricity and heat. For example, ceramics conduct heat, while metals conduct electricity.
ductility . It refers to the ease with which some materials can become threads or wires when pressure is exerted on them. This is the case of copper, silver and gold, among others.
malleability _ It is the ability of some materials to become sheets, such as copper, gold, silver and aluminum.
Hardness. It is the resistance that substances present to being scratched. It is measured with the so-called Mohs scale, whose range goes from 1 to 10. For example, talc has a hardness of 1, while diamond has a hardness of 10, the latter being the hardest material found in the nature.
Chemical properties
Chemical properties describe the behavior that substances have when they interact with others. Contrary to what happens in the case of physical properties, when a chemical property changes, substances change their structure and composition. Some chemical properties are oxidation, combustion, stability, corrosion, decomposition in the presence of light and reactivity with water, among others. Some of them are explained below.
oxidation . It is the ability of some materials to combine with oxygen from the air or water. For example, a piece of metallic sodium oxidizes by reacting with oxygen in the air.
combustion . It is a rapid oxidation process in the presence of oxygen. During combustion, energy is released in the form of light and heat, as occurs with propane gas under certain conditions of pressure and temperature.
instability . It is the ability of some substances to break down and transform into others.
corrosion . It is the deterioration suffered by the material in a humid environment typical of the environment such as air or water. For example, a bronze statue in the middle of a pond.
Intrinsic Properties and Extrinsic Properties
Unlike intrinsic properties, extrinsic properties are not essential qualities of a material, since they are affected by certain factors external to the substance itself. The extrinsic properties do not provide information about the characteristic behavior of substances, nor about how to distinguish them from others. The most important are mass, weight, volume, inertia, and impenetrability. The intrinsic and extrinsic properties are closely related to the intensive and extensive properties of matter .
References
https://prezi.com/g0b1zrg8fdh8/propiedades-intrinsecas-y-extrinsecas-de-la-materia/
