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Intensive and Extensive Properties of Matter - Introduction, Examples, Properties, FAQs

Intensive and Extensive Properties of Matter - Introduction, Examples, Properties, FAQs

Team Careers360Updated on 02 Jul 2025, 04:35 PM IST

Introduction

The two types of physical properties of matter are intensive and extensive properties. A physical attribute, on the other hand, is one that can be observed and quantified without altering the sample's chemical composition. Richard C. Tolman, a physical chemist and physicist, created the phrases "intensive" and "extensive" in 1917. Here's a rundown of what intensive and extensive qualities are, as well as instances of each type and how to distinguish between them.

Thermodynamic properties are defined as characteristics of a system that can be used to specify the state of the system. A material's thermodynamic properties can be classified in a variety of ways. Thermodynamic properties can be extensive or intensive. Matter has either extensive or intensive physical and chemical properties. The amount of matter being weighed affects a variety of properties, including mass and volume. The amount of matter present, for example, has no effect on density or colour.

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Commonly Asked Questions

Q: How do intensive and extensive properties relate to chemical engineering processes?
A:
In chemical engineering, intensive properties like temperature, pressure, and concentration are often used to control processes, while extensive properties like total flow rates and reactor volumes are used for scaling and design calculations.
Q: How do intensive and extensive properties relate to chemical reactivity?
A:
Chemical reactivity is often described by intensive properties like electronegativity and ionization energy, which are inherent to elements. The extent of a reaction, however, is an extensive property that depends on the amounts of reactants.
Q: Why is specific heat capacity intensive but heat capacity extensive?
A:
Specific heat capacity is intensive because it's the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of a unit mass of substance by one degree. Heat capacity is extensive because it's the total heat required for the entire sample, which depends on the amount of substance.
Q: How do intensive and extensive properties apply to the concept of chemical potential?
A:
Chemical potential is an intensive property that describes the change in a system's energy when particles are added or removed, normalized to the number of particles. It's crucial in understanding equilibrium and phase transitions, while the total energy of the system is an extensive property.

What is Extensive Property?

An extensive property is a property that is dependent on the amount of substance in a sample. Mass and volume are two of the many extensive properties. An extensive property of the system is determined by the scale of the system or the volume of matter in it. Extensive properties are those in which the value of a system's property equals the total of its parts' values.

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Commonly Asked Questions

Q: How do intensive and extensive properties apply to electrochemistry?
A:
In electrochemistry, electrode potential is an intensive property, while the amount of charge transferred is extensive. Understanding this distinction is crucial for designing and analyzing electrochemical cells and processes.
Q: How do intensive and extensive properties relate to chemical kinetics?
A:
In chemical kinetics, reaction rate (intensive) is influenced by concentration (intensive) and temperature (intensive), while the amount of product formed over time is extensive. This interplay is crucial for understanding and controlling reaction progress.
Q: How do intensive and extensive properties relate to phase diagrams?
A:
In phase diagrams, the axes typically represent intensive properties (like pressure and temperature), while the regions represent different phases. The amount of substance (extensive) doesn't affect the diagram, but it does affect the energy required for phase transitions.
Q: How do intensive and extensive properties apply to nuclear chemistry?
A:
In nuclear chemistry, half-life is an intensive property characteristic of each radioisotope, while the amount of radioactive material is extensive. This distinction is crucial for calculations involving radioactive decay and nuclear reactions.
Q: How do intensive and extensive properties apply to spectroscopy?
A:
In spectroscopy, the wavelengths of absorption or emission (intensive) are used to identify substances, while the intensity of the signal (extensive) can indicate the amount of substance present. This combination allows both qualitative and quantitative analysis.

Examples of Extensive Property

The examples of extensive property are:

  • Energy

  • Enthalpy

  • Entropy

  • Gibbs energy

  • Heat capacity

  • Mass

  • Length

  • Size

  • Volume

  • Weight

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Commonly Asked Questions

Q: Why is volume considered an extensive property?
A:
Volume is an extensive property because it depends on the amount of matter present. If you double the amount of a substance, its volume will also double, assuming other conditions remain constant.
Q: Can you explain why entropy is an extensive property?
A:
Entropy is extensive because it depends on the amount of substance. If you combine two identical systems, the total entropy doubles. This is because entropy is related to the number of possible microstates, which increases with system size.
Q: Can you provide an example of how extensive properties are used in stoichiometric calculations?
A:
In stoichiometric calculations, extensive properties like mass and moles are crucial. For example, when balancing chemical equations or determining limiting reagents, we use the extensive property of molar mass to convert between mass and number of moles.
Q: How do intensive and extensive properties relate to the laws of thermodynamics?
A:
The laws of thermodynamics often involve both types of properties. For example, the first law deals with energy (extensive), while the second law involves entropy (extensive) and temperature (intensive), highlighting their interconnected roles in thermodynamic processes.
Q: How do intensive and extensive properties factor into the ideal gas equation?
A:
The ideal gas equation (PV = nRT) combines both types: pressure (P) and temperature (T) are intensive, while volume (V) and number of moles (n) are extensive. This equation demonstrates how intensive and extensive properties interact in describing gas behavior.

What is Intensive Property?

An intense property is a bulk property, meaning it is a local physical attribute of a system that is independent of its size or volume of material. Intensive properties are those that are unaffected by the amount of matter present in the system. Copper wire has a particular electrical conductivity, as demonstrated in the image below. The short part that extends out would have the same conductivity as the full long roll of wire seen above if you cut it off. The conductivity of copper is a feature of the metal itself, not of the wire's length.

Enameled-Round-Copper-Wire

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Commonly Asked Questions

Q: Can you explain why reaction rate is an intensive property?
A:
Reaction rate is intensive because it's typically expressed as change in concentration over time. Concentration itself is intensive, so the rate, being derived from concentration, is also intensive. Doubling the amount of reactants doesn't change the rate, assuming other conditions remain constant.
Q: Why is surface tension considered an intensive property?
A:
Surface tension is intensive because it's a property of the interface between two phases, not dependent on the amount of liquid. It's determined by the intermolecular forces, which are characteristic of the substance, not its quantity.
Q: Why is viscosity considered an intensive property?
A:
Viscosity is intensive because it's a measure of a fluid's resistance to flow, which is inherent to the fluid's composition and temperature, not its amount. Whether you have a drop or a bucket of honey, its viscosity remains the same under identical conditions.
Q: How do intensive and extensive properties relate to chemical equilibrium?
A:
In chemical equilibrium, the equilibrium constant (K) is an intensive property, independent of the amounts of reactants and products. However, the actual amounts at equilibrium (extensive properties) can vary while maintaining the same K value.
Q: Can you explain why molar heat capacity is intensive but heat capacity is extensive?
A:
Molar heat capacity is intensive because it's the heat capacity per mole of substance, normalizing it to a standard amount. Heat capacity itself is extensive because it depends on the total amount of substance present.

Examples of Intensive Property?

The examples of intensive property includes:

  • Boiling Point

  • Colour

  • Concentration

  • Density

  • Electrical conductivity

  • Molality

  • Odour

  • Melting point

  • Magnetic permeability

  • Pressure

  • Surface tension

  • State of matter

  • Refractive index

  • Viscosity

  • Temperature

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Commonly Asked Questions

Q: Can you give an example of how temperature is an intensive property?
A:
Temperature is an intensive property because it doesn't change with the amount of substance. For instance, whether you have a cup or a gallon of water at 100°C, the temperature remains the same regardless of the volume.
Q: How does pressure behave as an intensive property?
A:
Pressure is an intensive property because it remains constant regardless of the amount of substance. For example, the pressure inside a balloon doesn't change if you cut the balloon in half; each half would maintain the same pressure as the original.
Q: Why is color considered an intensive property?
A:
Color is an intensive property because it doesn't depend on the amount of substance. Whether you have a small crystal or a large chunk of copper sulfate, its characteristic blue color remains the same.
Q: Why is electrical conductivity considered an intensive property?
A:
Electrical conductivity is intensive because it's an inherent characteristic of a material that doesn't depend on its size or amount. Whether you have a small wire or a large cable of the same material, the conductivity remains constant.
Q: How does the concept of intensive and extensive properties apply to gases?
A:
For gases, pressure and temperature are intensive properties, remaining constant regardless of the amount of gas. Volume and number of moles are extensive, changing with the amount. This understanding is fundamental to gas laws and their applications.

Difference Between Intensive and Extensive Property

INTENSIVE PROPERTY

EXTENSIVE PROPERTY

  • Independent property

  • Dependent property

  • No change in size

  • Change in size

  • Cannot be computed

  • Can be computed

  • Easily identifiable

  • Not easy to identify

  • Some examples are: Boiling Point, Melting Point, Viscosity

  • Some examples are: Length, mass, weight, volume, energy

Taking two samples of the same sort of matter and combining them is the simplest technique to determine if a physical property is intensive or extensive. The sample size has no effect on an intensive property. The density, temperature, and hardness of a tiny bit of matter are the same as a large amount of the same substance. An extensive property, on the other hand, is additive. This suggests that doubling the sample size doubles an extensive property. Doubling the sample size would make it twice as big, twice as lengthy, and so on.

Commonly Asked Questions

Q: What is the difference between intensive and extensive properties of matter?
A:
Intensive properties do not depend on the amount of matter present, while extensive properties do. For example, density is intensive (it remains constant regardless of sample size), while mass is extensive (it changes with the amount of substance).
Q: How do intensive and extensive properties relate to chemical reactions?
A:
In chemical reactions, extensive properties (like mass and volume) of reactants and products are often used in calculations, while intensive properties (like concentration and temperature) influence reaction rates and equilibrium.
Q: Why is it important to distinguish between intensive and extensive properties in chemistry?
A:
Distinguishing between these properties is crucial for accurate measurements, calculations, and predictions in chemistry. It helps in scaling processes, comparing different samples, and understanding how properties change (or don't change) with amount of substance.
Q: How do extensive properties change when a substance is divided?
A:
When a substance is divided, extensive properties change proportionally to the division. For instance, if you split a 100g sample of gold into two equal parts, each part will have a mass of 50g, but intensive properties like density remain unchanged.
Q: How do intensive and extensive properties behave in mixtures compared to pure substances?
A:
In mixtures, extensive properties are generally additive (e.g., total mass is the sum of component masses), while intensive properties often represent weighted averages of the components (e.g., the density of a mixture depends on the proportions of its components).

Specific Properties

A specific property is a form of intensive property that represents the ratio of two extensive properties. Both mass and volume, for example, are extensive properties. Their ratio is density, which is both a specific and an intensive property. Specific volume (the reciprocal of density), specific heat capacity (heat capacity divided by mass), molar volume (volume per mole), and specific enthalpy are some other specific properties. Example: Density = Mass/Volume , where both mass and volume are extensive property and density is an intensive property.

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Commonly Asked Questions

Q: Can intensive properties help in identifying substances?
A:
Yes, intensive properties are often used to identify substances because they remain constant regardless of sample size. For example, melting point and boiling point are intensive properties that can help distinguish between different substances.
Q: Why is density considered an intensive property despite involving mass (extensive) and volume (extensive)?
A:
Density is intensive because it's a ratio of two extensive properties (mass/volume). When you increase or decrease the amount of substance, both mass and volume change proportionally, keeping their ratio (density) constant.
Q: How can you convert an extensive property into an intensive one?
A:
You can convert an extensive property to an intensive one by expressing it as a ratio or per unit quantity. For example, heat capacity (extensive) can be converted to specific heat capacity (intensive) by dividing it by mass.
Q: How does the concept of intensive and extensive properties apply to solutions?
A:
In solutions, concentration is an intensive property (it doesn't change with amount), while the total amount of solute is extensive. This distinction is crucial in understanding solution behavior and preparing specific concentrations.
Q: What role do intensive and extensive properties play in phase changes?
A:
During phase changes, intensive properties like melting point and boiling point remain constant, while extensive properties like volume and energy content change. This helps in understanding and predicting behavior during phase transitions.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Can you explain why molality is intensive but molarity can be affected by temperature?
A:
Molality (moles of solute per kg of solvent) is intensive because it's based on mass, which doesn't change with temperature. Molarity (moles of solute per liter of solution) can be affected by temperature because volume (and thus concentration) can change with temperature.
Q: How do intensive and extensive properties relate to chemical bonding?
A:
Bond energy and bond length are intensive properties characteristic of specific bonds, regardless of how many such bonds exist in a sample. The total bonding energy in a sample, however, is an extensive property that depends on the amount of substance.
Q: Can you explain why vapor pressure is an intensive property?
A:
Vapor pressure is intensive because it depends on the nature of the liquid and its temperature, not on the amount of liquid present. At a given temperature, a small amount of water will have the same vapor pressure as a large amount.
Q: How do intensive and extensive properties apply to crystallography?
A:
In crystallography, unit cell parameters and crystal structure are intensive properties, characteristic of the substance regardless of crystal size. The total number of unit cells or the crystal's mass, however, are extensive properties.
Q: Why is molar volume considered an intensive property?
A:
Molar volume is intensive because it's the volume occupied by one mole of a substance. It normalizes volume to a standard amount, making it independent of the total amount of substance present.
Q: Can you explain why surface area to volume ratio changes with size, despite both being extensive properties?
A:
While both surface area and volume are extensive properties, their ratio is intensive. As an object grows, its volume increases faster than its surface area, causing the ratio to decrease. This principle is crucial in understanding phenomena like heat transfer and reaction rates.
Q: How do intensive and extensive properties apply to osmosis and osmotic pressure?
A:
Osmotic pressure is an intensive property that depends on solute concentration, not on the amount of solution. The total amount of water moved during osmosis, however, is an extensive property that depends on the quantity of solution and membrane area.
Q: Why is partition coefficient considered an intensive property?
A:
The partition coefficient is intensive because it's a ratio of concentrations of a substance in two immiscible phases at equilibrium. This ratio remains constant regardless of the total amount of substance or the volumes of the phases.
Q: Can you explain why thermal conductivity is intensive but heat transfer is extensive?
A:
Thermal conductivity is an intensive property that describes a material's ability to conduct heat, regardless of its size. Heat transfer, however, is extensive because the total amount of heat transferred depends on the size and shape of the object as well as the temperature difference.
Q: How do intensive and extensive properties apply to quantum chemistry?
A:
In quantum chemistry, properties like electron configuration and atomic orbitals are intensive, characteristic of individual atoms or molecules. The total electron density in a sample, however, is an extensive property that scales with the amount of substance.
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