Final answer:
Hardness is the example of a physical property of matter, which measures a material's resistance to permanent shape change without altering the substance's chemical identity.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student's question relates to the identification of a physical property of matter. From the given options, the correct one is hardness, which is a measure of how resistant a material is to various kinds of permanent shape change when a force is applied. It's considered a physical property because observing or measuring it does not involve changing the substance's chemical identity.
- Reacts with metals and tarnishes imply a chemical reaction, thus relating to chemical properties.
- Changes color when burned suggests a chemical change due to the interaction with fire.
- Hardness, as already stated, is a physical property related to the material's resistance to deformation.