What are physical properties of matter?

Physical properties of matter are characteristics that can be observed or measured without altering the chemical identity of the substance. Common examples include color, melting point, boiling point, density, and state of matter (solid, liquid, gas). These properties provide valuable information about the substance without requiring any chemical reaction or change.

This means that when you observe a physical property—like measuring the temperature at which water boils—you are not changing the water itself into a different substance; you are simply observing its behavior under certain conditions. Recognizing physical properties is crucial in the study of chemistry because they help classify and identify substances based on their observable traits.