Question

Which of the following is an extensive property?
A) Mass
B) Temperature
C) Pressure
D) Density

Answer 1

The extensive property is a physical property of matter that changes with a change in the shape and size of the matter. Therefore, extensive property varies directly with the mass. In the case of extensive properties, it can be determined without any chemical reaction taking place.

Complete solution:
We know, extensive properties are those, in which the value of the property of the system must be equal to the sum of the values of different parts of the system. It depends on the amount of matter contained in the system.
Mass is an example of extensive property as it depends on the amount of matter in the given sample and also its mass is proportional to the size of the system. All this justifies the fact that mass is an extensive property.

Therefore, option (A) is correct.

Additional Information:
There is another property of substances called the intensive property.
1. Pressure is an example of intensive property because it does not depend on the amount of substance. Pressure being defined as force per unit area, does not vary with the change in the size of the substance.
2. Density is also an example of intensive property as it depends on mass and volume, which themselves are extensive properties. Again, density does not depend upon the amount of substance it carries.

Note: The physical properties of substances can be of two types, intensive properties, and extensive properties. Intensive properties are bulk properties and they do not depend upon the amount of matter contained in the sample. When two extensive properties of the same sample combine, they result in an intensive property.