Chemical Properties

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But this doesn't tell you everything you need to know about a material. Materials also have chemical properties.

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Properties that can ONLY be observed when one substance changes into a different substance are called CHEMICAL PROPERTIES.

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For example, when you leave an iron nail outside, it will eventually rust. The iron reacted with oxygen to form iron oxide (rust).

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The iron oxide or RUST, is a NEW SUBSTANCE!​​

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A new substance must form for it be a chemical change​.

​Physical properties are easy to observe by looking at, touching or smelling. By physically interacting with them.

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Chemical properties can only be determined after a chemical change (or a chemical reaction) occurs.​

​Examples of Chemical Properties are reactivity, flammability, acidity.

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A CHEMICAL CHANGE is when a substance changes from one substance into another. This is a also called a chemical reaction. One chemical reacts with another chemical.

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The rust will not turn back into iron. Chemical changes are irreversible.

​Earlier this year, at a hotel, two cleaning agents were apparently mixed together in the basement of the building. The reaction between the two chemicals generating vapors that filled up part of the resort. 23 people died in this accident.