What is the relationship between a material thing and the properties it must have?

This question has been haunting me for a couple of years now. I'm mostly on my own in my philosophical pursuits, so any feedback would be appreciated.<br><br>A material thing is a bundle of properties. I've got no problem with that. Why a material thing must have the properties it has is what I'm having trouble with. I'm not trying to find a final cause, but a formal cause. There are all sorts of things that could exist in the universe. Why does a material thing have to have the properties it has, and not some other? Why does a material thing have to be the way it is and not some other way? What is the cause that explains why a thing has to be the way it is and not some other way? Why can't a material thing be any way whatsoever?<br><br>This reminds me of Leibniz's question "why is there something rather than nothing?" Why can't a material thing just be nothing? Why does it have to be something?<br><br>I can't find an answer in contemporary philosophy, so I'm turning to you. I feel confused and a bit lost, and any help will be appreciated.<br><br>TLDR: I am searching for the formal cause for why a material thing must have the properties it has, and not some other. Why can't a material thing have any properties whatsoever, and why can't a material thing be nothing?