chem lesson 1

• Chemical and physical properties

  Determine a substance's usefulness and effects
• Physical properties


  • Colour
  • Texture
  • Density
  • Smell
  • Solubility
  • Taste
  • Melting point
  • Physical states (solid, liquid, gas, plasma)
• Colour


  • Copper is copper coloured
• Texture


  • Sand paper is rough
• Density


  • Wood is less dense than water and floats
  • A rock is more dense than water and sinks
• Smell


  • Water has no smell
  • Vinegar has a definite smell
• Solubility


  • Table salt dissolves in water
  • This beaker of water shows a substance that does not dissolve in water - insoluble
• Taste


  • The tongue has different regions for the main tastes – sweet, salty, sour and bitter
  • Examples of bitter foods are: unsweetened cocoa, coffee, marmalade, beer, olives, citrus peel
• Melting point


  • The melting point of water is 0°C
  • The melting point of iron is 1,535°C
• Physical states


  • Solid
  • Liquid
  • Gas
  • Plasma
• Chemical properties


  • Reaction of an acid with a base to produce water and a salt
  • Flammability
  • Bleaching
  • Rust/Corrosion
• Flammability


  • Wood burns
• Bleaching


  • Teeth
  • Hair
• Rust/Corrosion


  • Iron rusts in the presence of oxygen
  • Iron (III) oxide
  • Discarded batteries in landfill sites break down readily when they come in contact with groundwater
• You tube video to watch