Question

Extensive properties depends on the quantity of matter but intensive properties do not. Explain whether the following properties are extensive or intensive.
Mass internal energy, pressure, heat capacity, molar heat capacity, density, mole fraction, specific heat, temperature and molarity

Answer 1

Extensive properties Those properties whose value depends on the quantity or size of matter present in the system is known as extensive properties.
e.g. mass, internal energy, heat capacity
Intensive properties Those properties which do not depend on the quantity or size of matter present are known as intensive properties e.g., pressure, molar heat capacity, density, mole fraction, specific heat, temperature and molarity.
Mole fraction or molarity of a solution is same whether we take a small amount of the solution or large amount of the solution.
Ratio of two extensive properties is always intensive.
`("Extensive")/("Extensive") =` Intensive
So, mole fraction and molarity are intensive properties.
e.g. mole fraction `= ("Moles of the component")/("Total no. of moles") = ("Extensive")/("Extensive")`
and molarity `= ("Mole")/("Volume") = ("Extensive")/("Extensive")`