* Physical Properties: These are characteristics that can be observed or measured without changing the substance's chemical composition. Examples include color, density, melting point, and boiling point.
* Chemical Properties: These describe how a substance reacts with other substances. They involve the formation of new substances.
The reaction of sodium with water is a chemical change:
* Sodium (Na) reacts with water (H₂O) to produce sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and hydrogen gas (H₂) .
* The heat generated by the reaction is enough to ignite the hydrogen gas, causing the explosion.
Therefore, the explosion is a result of a chemical reaction, not a physical property of sodium.
