Class VI
Science
Sorting Materials Into
Groups
By
Neha Sikdar (TGT Science)
KV Digapahandi
INTRODUCTION
We use a lots of things in our daily lives.
These are made up of different materials and have different properties.
Based on these properties, they can be classified.
Basis of classification could be the following:
i. 3 states of matter- solid, liquid or gas.
ii. Appearance -colour, texture, hard, soft and lustre
iii. Solubility – Soluble or insoluble in water
iv. Whether the object is made up of metal or non-metal.
v. Transparency – Opaque, Transparent or translucent
What is the need for classification?
Classification makes it easier for us to find a particular object from a large collection of objects.
It creates an order and reduces the confusion and chaos created due to non-classification of objects.
Just Imagine, what would happen if we just put all the articles used at our home in
one cupboard without sorting them?!
How are materials classified?
Materials are classified based on similarities in their
properties such as appearance, hardness, transparency,
solubility or density.
Appearance
Materials can be classified into two groups based on their appearance: Lustrous and Non-
lustrous.
Lustre : It means the shine, radiance or gloss in a material.
Materials like gold, silver, diamond have lustre, that means, they are shiny.
Materials like wood, plastic, graphite etc. do not shine, that is, they are non-lustrous.
Polishing : It protects the metal from corrosion due to water and air. It makes the metal
durable.
Hardness
Toughness: The property of material to withstand stress without breaking is termed as toughness.
A material with high strength and high ductility will have more toughness than a material with low strength and high
ductility.
Two types of materials based on hardness: Hard and Soft
Materials that can be compressed or deformed easily are referred to as soft substances.
Whereas materials that are difficult to bend or compress and are termed as hard substances.
Solubility
Some substances completely disappear or dissolve in water. These substances are soluble in
water.
Other substances do not mix with water and do not disappear even after we stir for a long
time. These substances are insoluble in water.
Name a few substances which are soluble and insoluble in water respectively.
Floatation
Buoyancy : The upward force applied by the fluid on the object or the body when an object is put in or submerged
in the fluid is termed as Buoyancy.
Materials can be classified based on the sinking of floating in water:
A leaf floats on water or A metal spoon will sink in water etc.
Density: Density is defined as mass per volume. You can think of it as the amount of particles of a substance are
packed into a certain amount of space.
If the particles are packed tightly together, the density would be greater than if they are loosely packed with a lot
of empty space around them.
Density is the reason some objects sink and other objects float.
Transparency
Materials can be grouped into three main categories based on their ability to transmit light – Transparent, Opaque and
Translucent.
An object which allows visible light to pass through it is called a transparent object. We can clearly see through a
transparent object.E.g.:- glass, fish tank.
An object which allows partial passage to light is called a translucent object.E.g.:-plastic bottle, paper cup.
An object which does not allow passage to light is called an opaque object. We cannot see through an opaque
object.E.g.:-wood, metals.
