Final answer:
A chemical property is a characteristic that describes a substance's ability to undergo a specific chemical change, evidenced by a reaction resulting in new matter. Examples include flammability, reactivity with acids, and corrosion like rusting.
Step-by-step explanation:
The property that describes how easily a substance undergoes chemical changes is known as a chemical property. These properties define a substance's potential to undergo a chemical reaction. For instance, the ability of hydrogen to ignite and explode under certain conditions is a chemical property. Similarly, the reaction of zinc with hydrochloric acid to produce hydrogen gas is also a chemical property, illustrating its reactivity with acids.
Chemical properties are typically observed during a chemical reaction, unlike physical properties which can be observed or measured without changing the substance's identity. To determine a chemical property, we look for evidence of a chemical change, such as new matter being produced that differs from the original substance. Examples of chemical changes include burning, rusting (like iron forming iron oxide), and corroding.
Understanding chemical properties is essential in chemistry as they help in identifying substances and predicting their reactivity under different conditions.