Revision Notes
Class – 6 Science
Chapter 4 - Sorting Material into Groups
● What is matter?
Matter is anything that occupies space and has mass along with it. Objects
around us are made from a different variety of materials that we see in our day
to day life.
● Material is a substance that is used for making things. A material could be
used to make a large number of different objects. An object could be either
made of a single type of material or of many different types of materials.
● GENERAL PROPERTIES OF MATERIAL
1. Appearance: Material could be shiny ( luster or luster ) or could be
rough (non- lustrous). All metals are lustrous, some are more while the
others is less whereas wood, rubber etc. are non-lustrous.
2. Hardness: The material could be hard and soft. For example Rocks, iron
etc. are hard. Hard materials may be :
a. Brittle: Those materials which break into smaller pieces or are
powdered when hammered. For example, rock, glass, salt.
b. Malleable: Materials that can be spread into thin sheets when
beaten. For example, metals are malleable.
c. Ductile:- Materials that can be drawn into thin and long wires.
For example, metals are ductile as well. Materials like wood,
rubber, and fibers are soft.
3. Thorough visibility:-
a. Transparent:- object through which light may pass .ex. glass
some plastic, sugar, and salt solution in water.
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b. Translucent:- object through which light may pass partially. For
example milky glass, milk.
c. Opaque: Object through which light does not pass. For example
wood, metals, rock, and walls.
4. Good and bad conductor of electricity:-
Material that allows electric current to pass through them easily is the
good conductors of electricity. For example, metals are known as good
conductors of electricity.
Materials like wood, plastic, rubber, cork and certain materials are bad
conductors of electricity as the electric current does not pass through
them.
5. Good and bad conductor of heat:-
All metals are good conductors of heat whereas wood is the bad
conductors of heat.
6. Combustible substances:- Those materials which catch fire on heating
easily are combustible substances. For example wood, plastic, fiber,
and paper are combustible substances.
7. Ability to float/sink in water:-
Those materials that sink in water are denser than the water whereas the
material which floats on water is less dense than water.
8. Based on solubilities:
Those substances which get completely soluble in water like salt and
sugar which disappear in water, are said to be soluble. The substances
that do not disappear in water and remain as it is are said to be insoluble
in water.
9. Miscible and Immiscible Liquid:-
When two liquids are mixed and it does not mix well, then it is said to
be immiscible.
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Whereas when the liquids which mix well with water are said to be
miscible.
● GROUPING OF MATERIALS.
1. Objects made up of wood.
2. Objects made up of fibre.
3. Objects made up of metal.
4. Objects made up of ceramic.
5. Objects made up of glass.
6. Objects made up of plastic.
7. Objects made up of rubber.
8. Some things are liquids e.g. oil.
● Materials are classified into groups together on the basis of similarities and
differences in their properties. This is done for convenience and to study their
properties easily.
What are the advantages of classification?
The several advantages of the classification of material is given below:
(a) It helps in the identification of objects.
(b) It helps in the sorting of the objects.
(c) It also helps in locating things when unable to find it.
(d) It makes the study of different objects easy and meaningful instead of
studying each material separately from each other which becomes hard.
(e) It helps to understand similarities and dissimilarities between the objects
around us.
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