Question

which term identifies a chemical property that can be used to differentiate a sample of sodium from a sample of gold?
a reactivity
b density
c temperature
d mass

Explanation:

To differentiate sodium and gold, we analyze the options:

• Reactivity (A): Chemical property (involves reactions, e.g., sodium is highly reactive with water/air, gold is inert).
• Density (B): Physical property (mass/volume, not a chemical change).
• Temperature (C): Not a property of the substance itself (depends on conditions).
• Mass (D): Physical property (amount of matter, not chemical).

Only reactivity is a chemical property distinguishing their behavior.

Answer:

A. reactivity