Chemical properties are characteristics of a substance that become evident during a chemical reaction. These properties describe how a substance interacts with other substances, including its reactivity, acidity, and flammability. For example, the ability of sodium to react with water to produce hydrogen gas and sodium hydroxide is a chemical property.
Understanding chemical properties is essential in fields like chemistry and materials science. They help scientists predict how substances will behave in different environments. For instance, knowing the corrosiveness of a material can inform decisions in construction and manufacturing to ensure safety and durability.