NCFE Physical Science Practice Exam

Flammability describes a characteristic of a substance related to its ability to ignite and burn in the presence of an ignition source, such as heat or flame. Substances that are flammable will catch fire easily and sustain a combustion reaction. This property is crucial in determining the safety and handling procedures for various materials, particularly in contexts such as storage, transportation, and usage in chemical reactions.

Reactivity refers to how readily a substance undergoes a chemical reaction with other substances, which can include reactions that do or do not produce combustion. Inertia describes the resistance of an object to change its state of motion, which is not directly related to the ability to burn. Conductivity concerns the ability of a substance to conduct electricity or heat, which does not indicate whether a material can ignite. Therefore, flammability is the specific term that captures the essence of a substance's capacity to burn.