How does an intensive property differ from an extensive property. Which of the following properties are intensive and which are extensive?
A. Length
B. Volume
C. Temperature
D. Mass
E. Density
The correct answer and explanation is :
Answer:
- A. Length – Extensive
- B. Volume – Extensive
- C. Temperature – Intensive
- D. Mass – Extensive
- E. Density – Intensive
Explanation (Approx. 300 words):
In thermodynamics and physical chemistry, properties of matter are categorized as either intensive or extensive, based on how they respond to changes in the size or amount of a substance.
An extensive property depends on the amount of matter or the size of the system. This means that if you double the quantity of a substance, the value of an extensive property also doubles. Common examples include mass, volume, and length—all of which increase as the amount of substance increases.
An intensive property, on the other hand, does not depend on the amount of the substance. These properties remain constant regardless of the system size. For example, temperature, pressure, and density are intensive. Whether you have a small cup of water or a large tank, the temperature and density can be the same.
Let’s examine the given examples:
- Length (A) is extensive because if you combine two objects end-to-end, their total length increases.
- Volume (B) is extensive since the total volume of a substance is the sum of the volumes of its parts.
- Temperature (C) is intensive. If you mix two samples of water at the same temperature, the temperature remains unchanged.
- Mass (D) is extensive. Doubling the amount of substance will double its mass.
- Density (E) is intensive. It is defined as mass divided by volume (density = mass/volume). Since both mass and volume are extensive and scale equally, their ratio remains constant, making density independent of the amount of substance.
Understanding the difference between these properties is essential in science and engineering, especially when analyzing systems or performing thermodynamic calculations.