Examples of Physical Properties of Matter - Comprehensive List

This is an extensive list of physical properties of matter. These are characteristics that you can observe and measure without altering a sample. Unlike chemical properties, you do not need to change the nature of a substance to measure any physical property it might have. 

You may find this alphabetical list to be especially useful if you need to cite examples of physical properties.

A-C

• Absorption
• Albedo
• Area
• Brittleness
• Boiling point
• Capacitance
• Color
• Concentration

D-F

• Density
• Dielectric constant
• Ductility
• Distribution
• Efficacy
• Electric charge
• Electrical conductivity
• electrical impedance
• Electrical resistivity
• Electric field
• Electric potential
• Emission
• Flexibility
• Flow rate
• Fluidity
• Frequency

I-M

• Inductance
• Intrinsic impedance
• Intensity
• Irradiance
• Length
• Location
• Luminance
• Luster
• Malleability
• Magnetic field
• Magnetic flux
• Mass
• Melting point
• Moment
• Momentum

P-W

• Permeability
• Permittivity
• Pressure
• Radiance
• Resistivity
• Reflectivity
• Solubility
• Specific heat
• Spin
• Strength
• Temperature
• Tension
• Thermal conductivity
• Velocity
• Viscosity
• Volume
• Wave impedance

Physical vs. Chemical Properties

Chemical and physical properties are related to chemical and physical changes. A physical change only alters the shape or appearance of a sample and not its chemical identity. A chemical change is a chemical reaction, which rearranges a sample on a molecular level.

Chemical properties encompass those characteristics of matter that can only be observed by changing the chemical identity of a sample, which is to say by examining its behavior in a chemical reaction. Examples of chemical properties include flammability (observed from combustion), reactivity (measured by readiness to participate in a reaction), and toxicity (demonstrated by exposing an organism to a chemical).