Identifying Material Properties

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5th Grade Science › Identifying Material Properties

Questions 1 - 10
1

A student has three jars of powdered chemicals that are not labeled. One is salt, one is sugar, and the last one is baking soda. To figure out which is which, the student pours vinegar over each of them and one of them starts to bubble! What is the substance that reacts with vinegar?

baking soda

salt

sugar

none of these

Explanation

The answer is baking soda. Baking soda is a common household product that is a base. Vinegar is an acid. Acids and bases react chemically when combined.

2

A student has three jars of powdered chemicals that are not labeled. One is salt, one is sugar, and the last one is baking soda. To figure out which is which, the student pours vinegar over each of them and one of them starts to bubble! What is the substance that reacts with vinegar?

baking soda

salt

sugar

none of these

Explanation

The answer is baking soda. Baking soda is a common household product that is a base. Vinegar is an acid. Acids and bases react chemically when combined.

3

A student compared an ice cube to the liquid water from the ice cube after it melted. Which of the following statements is an observation from the student's comparison?

Both have a definite mass and volume, and both have a definite shape.

Both have a definite mass and volume, but neither has a definite shape.

Both have a definite mass and volume, but only the liquid water has a definite shape.

Both have a definite mass and volume, but only the frozen ice cube has a definite shape.

Explanation

Two properties that describe both liquids and solids are a definite mass and volume but not a definite shape. The liquid takes the shape of the container it is placed within, while solids have an actual fixed shape. If you put water in a bowl, it will be bowl-shaped. If you put liquid in a bottle, it will be bottle-shaped. If you place an ice cube in these same containers, they will remain an ice cube shape unless they melt into a liquid.

4

A student compared an ice cube to the liquid water from the ice cube after it melted. Which of the following statements is an observation from the student's comparison?

Both have a definite mass and volume, and both have a definite shape.

Both have a definite mass and volume, but neither has a definite shape.

Both have a definite mass and volume, but only the liquid water has a definite shape.

Both have a definite mass and volume, but only the frozen ice cube has a definite shape.

Explanation

Two properties that describe both liquids and solids are a definite mass and volume but not a definite shape. The liquid takes the shape of the container it is placed within, while solids have an actual fixed shape. If you put water in a bowl, it will be bowl-shaped. If you put liquid in a bottle, it will be bottle-shaped. If you place an ice cube in these same containers, they will remain an ice cube shape unless they melt into a liquid.

5

Which of the physical properties listed below can be measured?

None of the answer choices are correct.

Freezing point

Boiling point

Ability to conduct electricity

All of the answer choices are correct.

Explanation

All of the physical properties listed below can be determined through measurement. A material's freezing point can be determined by keeping track of the temperature the material is exposed to colder and colder temperatures until it freezes. The temperature this happens is decided after multiple trials determine its freezing point. A material's boiling point is discovered by measuring a rising temperature until the material comes to a rolling boil. Both of these physical properties are measured with a thermometer. Finally, whether a material conducts electricity depends on what the sample is made up of. Things like wood, plastic, and cloth do not conduct electricity well, while metal and copper do. The electrical conductivity can be calculated by measuring the resistance, area, and length of the test material. You can also use a four-terminal ohmmeter for greater accuracy.

6

Which of the physical properties listed below can be measured?

None of the answer choices are correct.

Freezing point

Boiling point

Ability to conduct electricity

All of the answer choices are correct.

Explanation

All of the physical properties listed below can be determined through measurement. A material's freezing point can be determined by keeping track of the temperature the material is exposed to colder and colder temperatures until it freezes. The temperature this happens is decided after multiple trials determine its freezing point. A material's boiling point is discovered by measuring a rising temperature until the material comes to a rolling boil. Both of these physical properties are measured with a thermometer. Finally, whether a material conducts electricity depends on what the sample is made up of. Things like wood, plastic, and cloth do not conduct electricity well, while metal and copper do. The electrical conductivity can be calculated by measuring the resistance, area, and length of the test material. You can also use a four-terminal ohmmeter for greater accuracy.

7

Screen shot 2020 07 01 at 3.49.01 pm

This is a block of aluminum. Which of the following is NOT a property of this object?

it is silver

it is larger than a quarter

it has a density

it can be used to make other things

Explanation

The answer is "it can be used to make other things." This is not a property of matter. Some common properties of matter are: color, luster (how shiny it is), texture, inertia, mass, weight, volume, density and specific gravity.

8

Screen shot 2020 07 01 at 3.49.01 pm

This is a block of aluminum. Which of the following is NOT a property of this object?

it is silver

it is larger than a quarter

it has a density

it can be used to make other things

Explanation

The answer is "it can be used to make other things." This is not a property of matter. Some common properties of matter are: color, luster (how shiny it is), texture, inertia, mass, weight, volume, density and specific gravity.

9

Which answer choice(s) below are physical characteristics that can be gathered by observation?

None of the answer choices are correct.

All of the answer choices are correct.

Boiling point

Ability to conduct electricity

Freezing point

Explanation

None of the physical properties listed below can be determined through measurement. A material's freezing point can be determined by keeping track of the temperature the material is exposed to colder and colder temperatures until it freezes. The temperature this happens is decided after multiple trials determine its freezing point. A material's boiling point is discovered by measuring a rising temperature until the material comes to a rolling boil. Both of these physical properties are measured with a thermometer. Finally, whether a material conducts electricity depends on what the sample is made up of. Things like wood, plastic, and cloth do not conduct electricity well, while metal and copper do. The electrical conductivity can be calculated by measuring the resistance, area, and length of the test material. You can also use a four-terminal ohmmeter for greater accuracy. All of these physical properties require testing and the use of measurement to determine.

10

Which answer choice(s) below are physical characteristics that can be gathered by observation?

None of the answer choices are correct.

All of the answer choices are correct.

Boiling point

Ability to conduct electricity

Freezing point

Explanation

None of the physical properties listed below can be determined through measurement. A material's freezing point can be determined by keeping track of the temperature the material is exposed to colder and colder temperatures until it freezes. The temperature this happens is decided after multiple trials determine its freezing point. A material's boiling point is discovered by measuring a rising temperature until the material comes to a rolling boil. Both of these physical properties are measured with a thermometer. Finally, whether a material conducts electricity depends on what the sample is made up of. Things like wood, plastic, and cloth do not conduct electricity well, while metal and copper do. The electrical conductivity can be calculated by measuring the resistance, area, and length of the test material. You can also use a four-terminal ohmmeter for greater accuracy. All of these physical properties require testing and the use of measurement to determine.

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