Question

Extensive properties are linearly dependent on the amount of substance.

(a) True

(b) False

This question was posed to me in homework.

This key question is from Basic Energy Concepts topic in chapter Energy Balance of Bioprocess Engineering

Answer 1

The correct choice is (a) True

Best explanation: Extensive properties are linearly dependent on the amount of substance. Examples: mass, volume, energy. Take two identical samples with all properties identical and combine them into a single sample. Properties that double are extensive. Properties that remain the same are intensive. For example, if I took 1.0 liter of water at room temperature (25 °C) and added another 1.0 liter of water at the same temperature then I would have 2.0 liters of water at 25 C. From this example we see that Volume and Mass are extensive properties (i.e., volume and mass doubled), while Temperature is an intensive property (i.e., temperature stayed the same). You would also expect the density to remain the same, so it is also an intensive property.