Final answer:
A characteristic of a pure substance that describes its ability to change into a different substance is called a chemical property. This property defines the potential chemical changes a substance can undergo, like reactivity, combustibility, or corrosiveness.
Step-by-step explanation:
A characteristic of a pure substance that describes its ability to change into a different substance is called a chemical property. Chemical properties define how a substance interacts with other matter to change its chemical structure, resulting in a new substance with different properties. Examples of chemical properties include reactivity with acids, the ability to combust, or corrosiveness.
To identify a chemical property, a chemical change must occur. For instance, iron's ability to form rust when exposed to oxygen and water is a chemical property, as it results in a substance (rust) with a different chemical composition than the starting materials (iron, oxygen, water). A chemical property describes the potential for these types of chemical changes.