Chapter 6 Material around Us

Material Around Us - Class 6 Science Chapter 6

Question 1: Kitchen Sorting

Visit your kitchen and observe how your parents have organised various edibles. Can you suggest a better sorting method?

I observed the kitchen and suggest this better sorting method:

• Grains and pulses: Keep in labeled containers on one shelf.
• Spices: Store in small jars on a spice rack.
• Snacks and ready-to-eat items: Keep together in a separate basket.
• Vegetables: Store in a basket or the lower drawer of the kitchen.

Question 2: Unscramble and Match

Unscramble the letters (Column I) and match with their properties (Column II):

Scrambled Word (Column I)	Unscrambled Word	Property (Column II)
T R E M A T	MATTER	Occupies space and has mass
U L S B E L O	SOLUBLE	Mixes completely in water
T N E R P A S N A R T	TRANSPARENT	Objects can be seen clearly through it
E R U S T L	LUSTRE	Shiny surface

Question 3: Transparency of Containers

Why are containers used to store materials in shops and at home usually transparent?

Containers are often transparent so you can easily see what is stored inside, allowing for quick identification and effective organization.

Question 4: True or False

Statement	True / False	Correction (if False)
Wood is translucent while glass is opaque.	False	Wood is opaque while glass is transparent.
Aluminium foil has lustre while an eraser does not.	True	—
Sugar dissolves in water whereas sawdust does not.	True	—
An apple is a matter because it occupies no space and has mass.	False	An apple is matter because it occupies space and has mass.

Question 5: Properties of Materials in Chairs

We see chairs made up of various materials. Which materials used to make chairs fulfill these properties the most?

• Hardness: Wood, iron, cement, and stones (do not bend or shake even after long use).
• Lightweight: Plastic and bamboo (easy to lift and move).
• Not very cold in winters: Wood or plastic (feel less cold compared to metal or stone).
• Easily cleaned: Plastic, painted wood, or metal (can be maintained to look new over long use).

Question 6: Choosing Materials for Waste Containers

You need to have containers for the collection of food waste, broken glass, and wastepaper. Which materials would you choose and what properties should they have?

Waste Type	Chosen Material	Properties
Food Waste	Plastic or Metal	Should hold liquids and be durable (often opaque).
Broken Glass	Metal or Thick Plastic	Needs to be hard and strong for safety.
Wastepaper	Plastic or Cardboard	Lightweight yet spacious enough to hold a large volume.

Question 7: Properties of Air and Wooden Door

Air is all around us... It is because air is ____ and the wooden door is ____.

The most appropriate choice is: (i) transparent, opaque. Air is transparent, while a wooden door is opaque.

Question 8: Mysterious Materials X and Y

Imagine you have two mysterious materials, X and Y. What can these materials be? Identify whether material X is hard or soft, and what about material Y? Justify your answer.

• Material X: It is hard because it feels rigid and is soluble (e.g., sugar or salt).
• Material Y: It is soft because it changes shape easily and is insoluble (e.g., sawdust or chalk powder).

Question 9: Who Am I?

Identify the material based on the following properties:

• (a) I have lustre: Metal
• (b) I can be easily compressed: Soft material
• (c) I am hard and soluble in water: Likely Sugar or Salt
• (d) You cannot see clearly through me: Translucent material
• (e) I have mass and volume but you cannot see me: Likely Air

Question 10: Solubility Pairs

Using the following materials – vinegar, honey, mustard oil, water, glucose, and wheat flour – make pairs where one material is soluble in the other, and pairs where one material remains insoluble.

Material Pair	Solubility Property
Water + Glucose	Soluble – Glucose dissolves in water
Water + Mustard Oil	Insoluble – Oil does not mix with water
Water + Wheat Flour	Insoluble – Flour does not dissolve in water