What are chemical properties
a chemical property alters the internal or molecular structure of a substance when interacting with another substance creating a new.
Chemical properties are observable or distinguishable when there is a change in the original composition, transforming it into a different one. This change, called chemical changecauses the modification of chemical bonds when in contact with other reacting substances.
To identify the chemical properties of a substance it is necessary to have knowledge about its reactivity or chemical behavior towards other components, since, although some are visible, the main characteristic lies in the profound modification of its structure.
Chemical properties characteristics
The chemical properties of matter are characterized by producing new substances, which are generally permanent and irreversible.
They are always accompanied by a profound modification in the properties of the substances in contact and a variation in energy is generally observed between the original product and the created product.
Examples of chemical properties
The chemical properties are different in each substance since its reaction or behavior as a reagent depends on its molecular composition and that of the component with which it comes into contact. Some of the chemical properties that we can find are:
Chemical reactivity: It is the way in which one substance reacts to another, also called a chemical reaction. Among them we can find, for example, reactivity with water, reactivity with acidic substances and reactivity with bases or hydroxides.
Combustion: reaction against oxygen that produces energy in the form of light or heat. Determines whether a substance is combustible or flammable.
Oxidation: loss of electrons from an atom or ion. Determines the corrosion and oxidation of different substances compared to other compounds.
Reduction: increase in electrons of an atom or ion. It is a phenomenon opposite to oxidation but which can occur simultaneously and is called oxidation-reduction. Both phenomena are defined as electron transfer reactions.
See also Properties of matter.
Chemical and physical properties
Chemical properties differ from physical properties since the latter does not create new substances, these properties being observable and measurable without the need to know their composition.
See also Chemistry.