Let’s know about Is Temperature a Physical Property. Temperature is a property of a material that measures the heat and coolness of the material. The temperature of the material specifies the spontaneous flow of heat; Then a question arises: is temperature a physical quantity?
The temperature of the material is related to the internal motion of the molecules so that the molecules gain kinetic energy. Since temperature is related to the intrinsic property of the material, so through this post we are trying to explain why and how temperature is a physical property.
Temperature is a physical property because it only allows the molecules of the material to possess kinetic energy, which causes random motion of the molecules inside the material, but does not affect the molecular configuration that is associated with the structure. Since there is no change in the composition of the substance due to temperature; Therefore it is a physical property.
How is temperature a physical property?
Every material has a certain temperature which describes its general property to explain how temperature is physical, looking at the thermometer as an example. A thermometer is a measuring instrument used to check the temperature of a substance.
The thermometer consists of a narrow glass tube with mercury in the bottom of the tube. When heat is supplied, the mercury expands and gains kinetic energy and begins to rise. When the temperature drops, the temperature also drops. The electronic configuration of mercury does not change in this process; Only mercury molecules gain kinetic energy which leads to internal motion.
Is change in temperature a physical property?
We cannot predict the temperature of a substance unless there is a change in the physical property. If a substance changes its shape, texture, colour, hardness or shape by change in temperature, then we can say that change in temperature is a physical property.
Let us consider the example of iron or steel. Iron is a very hard material, and it is much harder to mold than it is to give it the desired shape. When you heat iron or steel above 460 °C, the iron or steel glows red and becomes soft and easy to mold. Change in temperature of iron or steel changes their color and decreases hardness, these two changes of iron and steel are nothing but changes in physical property, which can be reversed on cooling. Thus the change in temperature is also linked to the physical property.
How is change in temperature a physical property?
The heating and cooling of any substance causes a change in temperature. Since we know that temperature is nothing but the internal motion of the molecule, a doubt arises whether temperature is a physical property if the internal momentum of the molecule changes?
The answer to this question can be clarified by considering the example of water. Water boils at 100°C and freezes below 4°C. This boiling and freezing of water refers to a change in the temperature of the water. When water boils, vapors are formed. Here water changed its state from liquid to gas, but the structure of water remains the same consisting of 2-hydrogen molecules and oxygen atoms held together by a strong bond. Only the physical state of the molecule changes. The same is the case with the formation of ice from water. When water freezes below 4 °C, liquid water turns into solid-state ice.
In both cases, the change in temperature is due to the change in the motion of the molecules. If molecular velocity is considered a physical property, then change in temperature is also a physical property because temperature is highly affected by molecular motion.
If a chemical compound reacts chemically with an increase or decrease in temperature, how can we call temperature a physical property?
Basically, chemical reactions must occur even without changing the temperature. In some compounds, the chemical reaction is accelerated by the variation of temperature. If you raise the temperature, more heat energy causes it to bond with a neighboring molecule, so the reaction time is reduced. The change in temperature associated with the molecule only imparts more kinetic energy to the molecule and breaks the bond with the neighboring atom. After breaking the bond, the chemical properties of the individual atom remain the same. Thus it is also considered as a physical property.
There are some cases in which heat is released due to a chemical reaction. The release of heat is nothing but a change in temperature. In that case, a chemical reaction is responsible for the change in temperature, and the temperature has nothing to do with the chemical reaction; Hence the change in temperature, in this case, is also considered as a physical property.
frequently Asked question
What factors affect the temperature of a substance?
The factor that greatly affects the temperature of the substance is the motion of the molecule.
If the speed of the molecules in the substance is greater then the kinetic energy acquired by them will be greater; This leads the substance to attain a higher temperature. If the molecules are slow, the kinetic energy they acquire will be less, leading to a lower temperature.
Does a change in temperature cause a change in other physical properties?
Changes in physical properties and temperature are always related to each other. A change in temperature over a period of time results in a change in a physical property, whereas, on the other hand, a change in a physical property results in a change in temperature.
Changes in temperature are largely influenced by variations in pressure and volume. This leads to change in other physical properties like texture, size, shape, solubility, colour, hardness etc. For example, lead chloride. Lead chloride is insoluble in cold water but soluble in hot water. Here the water temperature varies, due to which the solubility of lead chloride changes.
Why is temperature a physical property?
The temperature of an object is variable and reversible and it always reflects physical changes such as melting point, boiling point, freezing point and also the state of matter.
Any property that is physical presence, measureable, observable and not involved in a chemical reaction is called a physical property. Temperature is also a measurable quantity and sensible that specifies the physical nature of a substance.
How do you measure temperature?
There are three units for measuring temperature; they are
- Fahrenheit
- Celsius
- Kelvin
What are the factors that greatly affect the physical state of matter?
Substances have specific properties that are responsible for changes in the physical state of matter; they are
- Temperature – By increasing the temperature, a substance can be converted from a solid to a liquid and a liquid can be converted into a liquid by lowering the temperature.
- By increasing the pressure, a gas can be converted into a liquid and a liquid into a solid. In the case of pressure reduction, it is the opposite.
- Intermolecular Force – If the intermolecular force between the substances is strong, then the state of matter will be solid as the intermolecular space between atoms is greatly reduced. If the intermolecular force is moderate, the substance acquires the liquid state, and if it is very low, the substance acquires the gaseous state because the intermolecular space is very large.
Is temperature a broad or intensive property?
Temperature is often referred to as an intensive property, as every object has some temperature regardless of size, shape, and volume.
The temperature of a substance does not depend on the amount of substance present in it. If you take a cup of milk at 30°C and a cup of water at 30°, and if you mix them, the temperature of the water and milk mixture is also the same at 30°C.
