Which term describes a characteristic observable without changing the identity of a substance?

Which term describes a characteristic observable without changing the identity of a substance?

• A. Physical property
• B. Conservation of mass
• C. Physical change
• D. Chemical change

Answer: (A)

A physical property is a characteristic you can observe or measure about a substance without changing what the substance is. This means you can see or test it while the material remains the same substance. Examples include color, density, texture, melting point, and conductivity. The other terms describe different ideas: conservation of mass is a principle about matter in a closed system, not a property of a material; a physical change is a change in form or state without changing the substance’s identity (like ice melting); a chemical change creates a new substance with different properties (like iron rusting). Since the question asks for a description of something observable without changing the substance’s identity, the correct term is physical property.

A physical property is a characteristic you can observe or measure about a substance without changing what the substance is. This means you can see or test it while the material remains the same substance. Examples include color, density, texture, melting point, and conductivity. The other terms describe different ideas: conservation of mass is a principle about matter in a closed system, not a property of a material; a physical change is a change in form or state without changing the substance’s identity (like ice melting); a chemical change creates a new substance with different properties (like iron rusting). Since the question asks for a description of something observable without changing the substance’s identity, the correct term is physical property.