Sorting Materials into Groups

Materials can be sorted into different groups based on its properties.

Any substance or material has mass and density.

Mass is the amount of matter contained in a material whereas density is the mass contained per unit volume in a material.

Different Properties of matter or materials are as follows:-

1. Hardness

A material is said to be hard if can be cut into symmetrical halves, i.e., it gets a perfect shape. Whereas it is said to be soft if cutting it gives soft edges or blunt edges.

2. Transparent-

• A material is said to be transparent when light can pass through it.
• Also, one can see through a transparent naterial.

Exmaple- glass

3. Opaque-

• A material is said to be opaque if it doesn’t allow any light to pass through it.
• Also, nothing can be seen through this material.

Example–  wood.

4. Translucent-

• A material is said to be translucent if it allows a part of light to pass through it.
• Any object when seen through it doesn’t appear clear

Example– butter paper

5. Conductor-

• A substance that conducts electricity is known as a conductor

Example– copper

6. Non conductor-

A substance that doesn’t conduct electricity is known as a non conductor.

Example– wood, rubber.

7. Soluble-

A substance that dissolves completely in water or any other solvent, it is said to be soluble in that solvent.

Example– sugars is soluble in water

8. Insoluble-

A substance that don’t dissolve in water or a solvent, it is said to be insoluble in that solvent.

Exmaple- soil settles in the bottom of water, i.e., soil is insoluble in water.

Thus, all these properties differentiate materials. For example, glass is different from copper. As glass is transparent and cooper is opaque. Also copper conducts electricity whereas glass doesn’t.

Similary, iron can be differentiated from aluminium. As iron has magnetic properties, it can get attracted to magnets. Whereas aluminium doesn’t get attracted to magnets.