Extensive property

Definition

An extensive property is a physical quantity whose value depends on the amount of matter in a sample. Examples include mass, volume, and total charge.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Extensive properties change when the size of the sample changes.
2. Mass and volume are classic examples of extensive properties.
3. Extensive properties can be contrasted with intensive properties, which do not depend on the sample size.
4. The sum of extensive properties of subsystems equals the extensive property of the whole system.
5. Energy is also considered an extensive property because it depends on the amount of substance.

Review Questions

• What is an extensive property?
• Give two examples of extensive properties and explain why they qualify as such.
• How do extensive properties differ from intensive properties?

Related terms

Intensive Property: A physical quantity that does not depend on the amount of matter in a sample, such as temperature or density.

Physical Property: A characteristic of matter that can be observed or measured without changing its chemical composition.

Chemical Property: A characteristic that describes how a substance interacts with other substances to produce different kinds of matter.