Science · Class 6
Sorting Materials into Groups
Grouping materials by appearance, hardness, solubility, and transparency.
3 sections15–25 min read6 MCQs · 2 examples
Chapter Overview
Materials around us differ in appearance, hardness, solubility, transparency, and conductivity. Objects are grouped by common properties to study them systematically.
Properties of Materials
- Appearance: lustre (shiny) vs non-lustrous
- Hardness: can be scratched or not
- Solubility: soluble vs insoluble in water
- Transparency: opaque, translucent, transparent
- Conductivity: good conductors vs insulators of heat and electricity
Grouping Objects
- By material: wood, metal, plastic, glass
- By use: kitchenware, stationery, tools
- By physical state at room temperature
Solved Examples
Step-by-step solutions — read each step before checking the final answer.
Solubility
Salt and sand are mixed in water. How do you separate them?
- 1Stir in water — salt dissolves, sand does not
- 2Filter to remove sand
- 3Evaporate water to recover salt
Answer
Dissolve, filter, evaporate
Conductors
Why are electric wires coated with plastic?
- 1Metal wire conducts electricity
- 2Plastic is an insulator
- 3Coating prevents electric shock
Answer
Plastic insulates; prevents shock
Key Points to Remember
- ✓ Materials can be classified by more than one property
- ✓ Magnetic materials attract to magnet (iron, nickel, cobalt)
- ✓ Not all shiny metals are pure metals
Exam Tips
- • Give examples for opaque, translucent, transparent
- • List three conductors and three insulators
- • Explain why grouping helps in study
Practice MCQs — Sorting Materials into Groups
Test your understanding with topic-wise multiple choice questions. Explanations appear after each answer.
Question 1 of 6Score: 0/0
A material that allows light to pass clearly is: