The study of matter is one of the most basic branches of physics and chemistry. A fundamental field of study that has allowed us to know especially the properties of matter to be able to mold it to our whim building everything we see today.

So, in this article we are going to discover the most important properties of matter that are usually studied. Although there are some more complex ones, here we have grouped them by physical, chemical and basic properties, with which we started.

Basic material properties

We begin with the basic properties of matter. Many of these depend on a single variable and, although they may fall into the following categories, these basic properties are the first to be studied and the easiest to understand.

1. Extension
   Refers to the measurements of an object. Specifically to the width, height and thickness of it. We can talk about both the extension of a hammer and the extension of a hydrogen atom.

2. Mass
   It refers to the quantity of matter. This property of matter is one of the most basic because we can say that we are talking about how much matter there is in a particular space.

3. Porosity
   This property of matter quantifies the fact that there is a space between the molecules. The larger the space, the greater its porosity.

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1. Divisibility
   Divisibility is the property of matter that informs us of the degree to which a material can be divided into several fragments.

2. Elasticity
   This property of matter allows it to stretch to a certain length and then return to its original position.

3. Inertia
   Inertia describes the ability of matter to remain in the position and speed at which it is.
   Physical properties of matter
   Now let us proceed to discuss some of the most important physical properties of matter. Although there are many more, we have chosen the ones that are usually more present.

4. Volume
   It refers to the extension taking into account the three spatial dimensions at the same time. That is, the height multiplied by the width and thickness.

5. Density
   Density is a property of matter, or rather, a characteristic. It is calculated taking into account the volume that a body occupies and the amount of mass. The more mass and/or less volume, the more density.

6. Melting point
   It is the amount of temperature that the matter bears until it melts. This physical property (that of passing from a solid to a liquid state) is usually expressed in degrees Kelvin or degrees Celsius.

7. Malleability
   It is a property of matter that allows it to deform without breaking (and therefore dividing). This property allows a material to become thin plates. Gold is the most malleable known element.

8. Shine
   This physical property of matter describes the extent to which a material is capable of reflecting light.

9. Ductility
   Similar to malleability, only in this case, it describes the possibility of matter becoming fine threads.

10. Tenacity
    Tenacity measures the ability of a material to absorb energy without breaking. It is explained as the degree of cohesion that exists between the molecules of matter.

11. Hardness
    Describes the strength with which a material opposes physical alterations of type: penetration, abrasion and scratching.

Chemical properties of matter

Finally, we will comment on some of the most important and known chemical properties of matter. They are as follows.

1. Oxidation
   Oxidation is a process that occurs when one element yields electrons to another. When it loses them, it is said that it "oxidizes". For this reason, among the properties of materials, one is the ease with which it oxidizes.

2. Electrical conductivity
   Let's look at two types of conductivity. The first is electrical conductivity, one of the most widely used properties of matter in industry. This physicochemical property measures how easily a material allows the electric current to travel through it.

3. Thermal conductivity
   Thermal conductivity describes how easily a material allows heat to propagate through it.

4. Toxicity
   Toxicity is a chemical property of many materials and substances. Anyone who comes into contact with a living being that leads to disease or deterioration of health is considered toxic. Toxicity is also linked to a specific dose.

5. Biodegradability
   Matter, especially organic matter, can be broken down into more basic chemical elements, which constitute it. Thus, matter biodegrades under certain environmental conditions. The more and faster the matter degrades, the more biodegradable it becomes.

6. Solubility
   Finally, the ability of a substance to dissolve in a liquid, usually water, is called solubility. The more soluble the matter, the easier it dilutes.