1. Activity 14: Physical and Chemical Properties of Materials

2. Read B-14 Challenge: How do the properties of materials
determine their uses?

3. Properties Definition:
Physical Property: A characteristic of a substance or material that helps identify it and never changes regardless of the amount.
Chemical Property: Describes how a material reacts with another substance.

4. In this activity…
You will investigate a large variety of materials to understand how the properties of materials determine their uses.
Materials Engineers work to improve materials to make them better suited for their intended purpose during their useful life.

5. Identify Materials BE GENTLE WITH THE MATERIALS!!!
The carbon rod is very delicate.
A property is a quality or trait that characterizes a material or object.
Physical Properties can be determined without a chemical reaction.
Chemical Properties can only be determined by looking for a reaction.
Chemical Reaction is when a substance changes chemically into another substance.

6. Physical and Chemical Properties
Physical Properties:
Computer paper is white, translucent, creases or crumples when folded, and tears easily.
Chemical Properties:
Paper when ignited also combines with oxygen in the air in the chemical reaction called combustion.

7. You will investigate: Physical Properties: Chemical Property:
Color: Does it resemble the color of something else?
Hardness: How resistant to scratching is it relative to another substance?
Luster: How is light reflected from the material? Is it shiny, dull, metallic, glassy, waxy, etc.?
Light transmission: Does light pass through the it?
Texture: How does the material feel between the fingers? Is it gritty, smooth, etc.?
Flexibility: Does the material bend with gentle pressure?
Chemical Property:
Reaction with hydrochloric acid: Does it react?

8. The Objects Have Different Shapes
Strips, Blocks, Cylinders, Irregular
These shapes are common and inexpensive
BUT, each material can be produced in any shape
Shape cannot be used to classify a material
SHAPE IS NOT A PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROPERTY

9. Procedure:
Follow procedure from pg. B-15 to B-17.

10. Table 1 on B-16 Be organized in your testing
Follow directions on how to test
BE GENTLE WITH THE MATERIALS!

11. Data: Testing Physical and Chemical Properties
(class handout to be glued into the
notebook – student sheet 14.1)

12. Grouping Materials
After you finish testing the materials, put them into categories based on their properties.

13. Results: Categories of Materials (use your data to come up with 2-4 categories)
Title of Categories
Characteristic
Propetites
List the actual material

14. Analysis
4. In your science notebook, make a copy of the table, “Selecting Materials for Products.” For each product listed in the first column, complete the table by listing one material you tested that would work well and one that would not work well. Explain your reasons for each choice in the appropriate column.

15. Selecting Materials for Products
Use of material
Materials that would work well
Reason
Materials that would NOT work well
Reasons
Electrical wire
Garden statue
Toy boat
Tabletop
Inexpensive container for an acid, such as vinegar