Final answer:
The ability of a matchstick to burn when struck is a chemical property because it involves a change in chemical composition during a reaction.
Step-by-step explanation:
The ability of a matchstick to burn is indeed a chemical property. Chemical properties are those that can only be observed during a chemical reaction and describe the ability of a substance to change into a different substance. Examples include flammability, reactivity with water, and reactivity with acids.
When a matchstick is struck and burns, the chemical composition of the substances in the match head are changed as they react rapidly with oxygen in the air, which is why burning is a chemical property and not a physical one. Physical properties can be observed without changing the chemical composition of a substance and include melting point, boiling point, and density.