Physical Properties vs. Chemical Properties
Main DifferenceThe main difference between the physical properties and chemical properties is that the physical properties are those which can be observed without bringing out the change in the chemical composition of the substance while the chemical properties are those that can be observed by bringing the change in the chemical composition of the substances.

Difference Between Physical Properties and Chemical Properties
Physical Properties vs. Chemical Properties
Physical changes are observed without any change in the substance, whereas chemical properties can be measured with the changes in the chemical composition of substances.
Physical Properties vs. Chemical Properties
Physical properties can change the physical state of a substance, whereas chemical properties cannot change the physical state of materials.
Physical Properties vs. Chemical Properties
Physical properties have the ability to bring the change in the physical state of matter, on the other hand, in chemical properties, molecules changes.
Physical Properties vs. Chemical Properties
In physical properties, chemical identity does not change, whereas, in the case of chemical properties, chemical identity does not remain the same.
Physical Properties vs. Chemical Properties
Physical properties cannot be used to predict how substances will react, whereas chemical properties are used to know how substances react.
Physical Properties vs. Chemical Properties
In physical properties, no chemical reactions are needed to show it; on the other hand; chemical reactions are necessary to show the chemical properties.
Physical Properties vs. Chemical Properties
In physical properties, the structure of material remains the same on the other side in chemical properties structure of material changes.
Physical Properties vs. Chemical Properties
Physical properties do not have any relation with the chemical bond of substances, but chemical properties have a relationship with the bonds present in substances.
Physical Properties vs. Chemical Properties
Physical properties directly depend on the amount of matter, whereas chemical properties do not depend on the quantity of matter.
Comparison Chart
Physical properties | Chemical properties |
Properties that are observed without bringing the change in chemical composition | Properties that are observed with bringing the change in chemical composition |
Relationship with chemical bonds | |
They do not have any direct relationship with the chemical bond of substance | They have a relationship with the chemical bond of substance |
Measurement | |
They can be measured without any change in the identity of the substance | They can be measured with any change in the identity of the substance |
Dependence | |
Depends on the number of substances | Do not depend on the substance quantity |
Ability | |
Can change the physical state | Molecules changes in chemical properties |
Change in structure | |
The structure does not change | Structure change |
Examples | |
Mass, color, volume, density, polarity, viscosity, odor, shape, solubility and texture | Oxidation state, coordination number, the reactivity of chemicals, toxicity, and flammability |
Physical Properties vs. Chemical Properties
Physical changes are observed without any change in the substance while chemical properties can be measured with the changes in the chemical composition of substances. Physical properties can change the physical state of a substance, whereas chemical properties cannot change the physical state of materials. In the case of physical properties, chemical identity does not change while in the case of chemical properties, chemical identity does not remain the same. In physical properties, no chemical reactions are needed to show it; on the other hand; chemical reactions are necessary to show the chemical properties. In physical properties, the structure of material remains the same, whereas in chemical properties structure of material changes. Physical properties cannot be used to predict how substances will react, whereas chemical properties are used to know how substances react. Physical properties do not have any relation with the chemical bond of substances, but chemical properties have a relationship with the bonds present in substances. Physical properties directly depend on the amount of matter, whereas chemical properties do not depend on the quantity of matter. Physical properties have the ability to change the physical state of matter, on the other hand, in chemical properties, molecules changes.
What are Physical Properties?
Physical properties are those properties which can be measured without bringing any change in the chemical composition of matter. These properties are used to show the appearance and dimensions of substances. These properties are also used to compare and observe the different types of matter. There are two main types of physical properties which are known as intensive properties and extensive properties.
- Intensive Properties
Intensive properties are those physical properties that are not depended on the number of materials. Properties that are regarding the appearance of material are known as the intensive properties. For example, color is an intensive property. Melting and boiling points of any material is also a fixed value and cannot be changed, so they are also called the intensive properties. Likewise, density is also an intensive property as density is determined by the mass of a unit volume.
- Extensive Properties
Extensive properties are those physical properties that depend on the number of substances. This shows that when the amount of substance changes, its extensive property also changes. For example, mass is measured by the amount of substance, and it cannot be measured by changes in the chemical composition of the material, so it is an extensive property. Likewise, length, volume, and other dimensions that are changed when the quantity of substance changed are known as the extensive properties.
Examples
Appearance, odor, shape, malleability, solubility, boiling point, melting point, mass, length, density, freezing point, volume, polarity, pressure, electric charge, dimensions, hardness, viscosity, and temperature.
What are Chemical Properties?
Chemical properties are those properties of matter that can be measured by bringing the change in the chemical composition of matter. The chemical composition of any substance is also the identity of that substance. The matter becomes a different type of matter when the chemical composition of that matter is changed. When the material may undergo the chemical reaction, then the chemical change in the substance occur. Chemical properties of any substance can be determined by observing the reaction of that substance towards the bases, acids, water, and other chemicals. For example, if a certain substance reacts with a reducing agent or oxidizing agent, then the oxidation state of that substance also changed. Therefore, the oxidation state is known as the chemical property. Chemical properties of any substance have a strong relationship with the chemical bonds that are present in the substances. If we want to change the identity of a substance, then we have to either to break the existing chemical bond in the substance or form a new chemical bond between the molecules of that substance.
Examples
Half-life, radioactivity, toxicity, chemical stability, reactivity, flammability, the heat of combustion, enthalpy of formation, oxidation state, buoyancy, compressibility, covalent bond, hydrogen bond, and noncovalent bond.
ConclusionConclusion of this article is that physical properties are those properties that can be measured without bringing any change in the matter whereas chemical properties are measured only with changing the matter or substance.