1. a single chemical compound or element that is found in nature amorphous 2. the amount of kinetic energy that a material can absorb without breaking cleavage 3. a break that does not follow a flat surface, but rather is rough and uneven crystal 4. resistance to being scratched fracture 5. a solid form resulting from the arrangement of atoms, ions, or molecules in definite geometric patterns hardness 6. a clean break parallel to planes of weakness in a crystal mineral 7. a non-crystalline solid having no orderly arrangement of molecules toughness

it can be observed without changing the identity of the object.

it depends on what substance you're talking about as well as many other factors. in quantum mechanics, the observation of particles affects the observers ability to measure certain properties. for example: you can know the velocity of a particle, but you can't know it's position; or you can know it's position, but not it's velocity. it's like trying to find out where a grain of sand is by throwing other grains of sand at it. once you find out where it is, it's been moved. it's also like trying to find an answer to the question of whether or not a tree falling in a forest makes a sound if nobody is there to hear it. paradoxically, the only way to find out is to be there and hear it.