Question

Which is an intensive property?

• A. Temperature
• B. Density
• C. Color
• D. Pressure

Hint:

Intensive properties (like density, boiling point, and color) are independent of sample size, whereas extensive properties (like mass and volume) change with the amount of material.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Density serves as a prime illustration of an intensive property.

Intensive properties are physical attributes of a system that are unaffected by its size or the quantity of the substance it contains. Density, quantified as mass divided by volume ($\rho = m/V$), exemplifies this characteristic as it is constant irrespective of the sample's mass or dimensions.

Density as an Intensive Property Explained:

• Density Calculation: Density is determined by dividing an object's mass ($m$) by its volume ($V$), represented by the formula $\rho = m/V$.
• Sample Size Irrelevance: The density of a homogeneous substance remains consistent, regardless of whether a small or large sample is considered. For instance, water's density is approximately 1 g/cm³ at 4°C, irrespective of the volume of water present.
• Distinction from Extensive Properties: Conversely, extensive properties are contingent on the amount of substance. Mass, volume, and total energy are examples of extensive properties. Doubling the quantity of a substance doubles extensive properties but leaves intensive properties like density unchanged.

Density is a crucial characteristic for substance identification, understanding material properties, and forecasting behavior under varying conditions, such as temperature and pressure fluctuations.