Properties panel
Physical and Chemical Properties
Learning cards with explanations, examples, formulas, related experiments, quiz prompts and glossary terms.
Density
Simple explanation: How much mass fits into a given volume.
Scientific explanation: Density equals mass divided by volume and depends on composition, temperature and phase.
Formuladensity = mass / volume
Real examplesWater is about 0.997 g/mL near room temperature; aluminium is much denser.
Related experimentdensity-separation
Mini quizAn object floats when it is less dense than the liquid.
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Viscosity
Simple explanation: How strongly a liquid resists flowing.
Scientific explanation: Viscosity is related to internal friction and molecular interactions; it often decreases as temperature rises.
FormulaNo beginner formula required
Real examplesGlycerol flows much more slowly than water in the same tube.
Related experimentviscosity
Mini quizHigher viscosity usually means faster or slower flow?
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pH
Simple explanation: A scale for acidity or basicity in water-based systems.
Scientific explanation: pH is related to hydrogen ion activity. The scale is logarithmic, so each pH unit is a large change.
FormulapH = -log10(aH+)
Real examplesPure water is near pH 7 at room temperature.
Related experimentph-neutralization
Mini quizWhat pH is neutral in water-based systems?
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Solubility
Simple explanation: How much of a substance can dissolve in a solvent.
Scientific explanation: Solubility depends on solute, solvent, temperature and sometimes pressure.
FormulaOften reported as g solute / 100 g solvent
Real examplesSodium chloride has a limited solubility in water.
Related experimentsolubility
Mini quizWhat is a solution called when no more solute dissolves?
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Conductivity
Simple explanation: How well a material allows electric charge to move.
Scientific explanation: Conductivity depends on mobile electrons in metals or mobile ions in solutions.
Formulaconductivity is the inverse of resistivity
Real examplesMetals often conduct well; pure water conducts poorly.
Related experimentsolubility
Mini quizWhat charged particles can conduct in solutions?
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Polarity
Simple explanation: Uneven charge distribution in a bond or molecule.
Scientific explanation: Polarity depends on electronegativity differences and molecular geometry.
FormulaNo single beginner formula
Real examplesWater is polar; methane is nonpolar.
Related experimentmolecule-builder
Mini quizWhich common molecule is polar: water or methane?
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Surface Tension
Simple explanation: The tendency of a liquid surface to resist being stretched.
Scientific explanation: Surface tension comes from cohesive forces between molecules at the surface.
Formulaforce / length
Real examplesWater droplets form rounded shapes because of surface tension.
Related experimentdiffusion
Mini quizSurface tension is caused by cohesive forces between what?
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Vapor Pressure
Simple explanation: The pressure from particles escaping from a liquid into vapor.
Scientific explanation: Vapor pressure increases with temperature and depends on intermolecular forces.
FormulaAdvanced: Clausius-Clapeyron relation
Real examplesLiquids with higher vapor pressure evaporate more readily.
Related experimentphase-change
Mini quizDoes vapor pressure generally rise with temperature?
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Heat Capacity
Simple explanation: How much energy is needed to raise temperature.
Scientific explanation: Heat capacity depends on substance amount and molecular energy storage modes.
Formulaq = m c deltaT
Real examplesWater has a high specific heat capacity.
Related experimentphase-change
Mini quizWhat does high heat capacity resist changing?
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Molar Mass
Simple explanation: The mass of one mole of a substance.
Scientific explanation: Molar mass is calculated from atomic masses in a chemical formula.
Formulasum of atomic masses in formula
Real examplesWater has a molar mass of about 18.015 g/mol.
Related experimentmolecule-builder
Mini quizWhat unit is commonly used for molar mass?
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