Which scientific discipline examines the properties of matter and how these properties change?

The field of study that examines the properties of matter and the changes these properties undergo is chemistry. Chemistry focuses on the composition, structure, and behavior of substances, as well as the interactions and reactions between them. This discipline is essential for understanding both the microscopic world of atoms and molecules and the macroscopic world of materials and their transformations.

For example, when substances undergo a chemical reaction, they may change form, produce new substances, or alter their physical properties such as state, color, or temperature. These aspects of chemical reactions highlight the importance of understanding the properties of matter.

In contrast, ecology studies the relationships between organisms and their environments; botany is the study of plants; and genetics focuses on heredity and variation in organisms. While each of these fields contributes valuable insights to the biological sciences, only chemistry is specifically concerned with the properties and changes of matter.