CHAPTER 1: QUALITIES

Unit one: Engineering materials.

I- Classification of materials.
There are two categories of solid materials; metals and non-metals. Metals may be
subdivided into ferrous metals (containing some proportion of iron: steel, cast iron,...) and
non-ferrous metals (copper, aluminium, brass …). Plastics may be subdivided into
thermoplastics; i.e. plastics that soften when heated and harden when cooled (PVC,
polythene, celluloid, nylon, polystyrene ...), and thermosetting plastics; i.e. plastics that
remain rigid at high temperatures (epoxy resins, Bakelite…). Organic materials such as
wood, wool, etc and ceramics (china, glass, porcelain, etc...).

1- Chemical and physical changes.

 We may define a chemical change as the change which alters the composition of the
substance. A chemical change always produces at least one substance entirely
different in composition and properties from those that existed before the change has
occurred. For example: when carbon, a black solid substance, burns in air, carbon
dioxide (CO2) is formed.
 Changes that do not alter the composition of a substance are known as physical
changes. The melting of ice, the freezing of water, the conversion of water to
steam, the condensation of steam to water, the dissolving of sugar in water, and the
heating of iron to redness, are all examples of physical change. Water, whether in the
solid, liquid or gaseous state, retains the same chemical composition. Sugar is the
same chemical substance in solution in water as it is in the solid state and can readily
be recovered as crystals by evaporation of the water. Iron, an emitter of light when red
hot, is still the same that reflects light when cold.

II- Physical properties:

Physical properties are those properties which do not involve a change in composition of the
material. Some familiar physical properties of matter are physical state, texture, ductility,
malleability, electrical and thermal conductivity, crystalline form, lustre, colour, melting
point, boiling point, density, and specific heat. Taste and odour are often classed as physical
properties of a substance.

a- Physical states of matter:

Matter can exist in three different states, designated as solid, liquid and gas (Fig. 1), which
can be distinguished by certain qualities (Fig. 2).

Fig. 1 the physical states of matter. Ice Water Water

Vapour
Solid Liquid Gas

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 Fig. 2
Solids
* Have a fixed shape that
does not change unless a
force is applied.
*Do not flow.
*Cannot be compressed
(keep the same volume).
Liquids Gases
*Do not keep their shape, they take *Do not keep their shape; they completely
the shape of the container they are in. fill the container that they are in.
*Flow *Flow, spread out quickly from where
*Cannot be compressed they are to start with (this is called
(keep the same volume) diffusion).
*Can be compressed (squashed into a
much smaller volume).

b- Texture, malleability, ductility, thermal and electrical conductivity:

Vocabulary:

Task 1: Fill in the gaps with the appropriate word from the box below.
ductile – flimsy – conductor - resilient – flexible or pliable - soft – inflexible or stiff – insulator -
malleable – brittle or fragile.

1- A material that can be deformed by hammering and rolling like copper is said to be
….................
2- A material which breaks easily is said to be …...................
3- A material which cannot bend is said to be …...................
4- A material which is light, thin and not strong like paper and cardboard is said to be
…...............
5- A material which can be stretched into a long wire or strand like (Al) is said to be
…...................
6- A material which is able to spring back to its former shape when pressure is removed like
an elastic is said to be ….................
7- A material that bends easily like rubber is said to be...........................
9- A material which is not rough, like wool is said to be …....................
10- A material which allows heat or electricity to pass along it, it is said to be a …................
11- A material which doesn't conduct heat or electricity like wood and glass is said to be
…............

Task 4: Language study.

 Adjectives and Nouns.
jectiveAd Verb Noun Adjective Verb Noun
weak to weaken Weakness resilient To make something resilient Resilience
tough …………… ........................ flexible ......................................... ………………
soft …………… ........................ elastic ......................................... ………………
hard …………… ........................ pliable .......................................... ………………
rough …………… ........................ rigid .......................................... ………………
coarse …………… ........................ ductile .......................................... ………………
stiff ..................... ........................ malleable .......................................... ……………….
smooth to smooth ........................
strong to strengthen ........................
brittle to embrittle ......................

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  Using “degree adverbs” as sentence modifiers.
Examples:
Adverb + Adjective 100% Extremely

Adverb + Adjective Indefinite article + Adverb + adjective + Noun Very

Glass is extremely brittle Glass is an extremely brittle material Quite
Polythene is very resilient ........................................................................... (not very)
Wood is fairly strong ........................................................................... Fairly
Paper is not very strong ...........................................................................
Wool is not at all rigid. ........................................................................... A bit (a
little bit)
0% Not at all

 Comparing.
Slightly
Considerably ADJ+ er
Much / A lot + more or less + ADJ + than
Far better or worse

Sentence Adverb + comparative of adjective

Steel is very strong but wood is not very strong Steel is considerably stronger than wood
Cardboard is quite strong, wood is not very Cardboard is slightly stronger than wood.
strong
Steel is very strong but nylon is not at all Steel is far stronger than wood.
strong
Copper is very malleable but steel is fairly Copper is slightly more malleable than steel
malleable
(Cu) is a very good conductor comparing to (Cu) is a slightly better conductor than (Fe).
(Fe)

Exercise one: Make statements comparing these elements.

1- Glass / fragile / steel. 7- Iron / malleable /wood
2- Paper / flimsy / wood. 8- Paper / strong / cardboard.
3- Copper / ductile / iron. 9- Porcelain / resilient / material / plastic.
4- Rubber / rigid / steel. 10- Wood / hard / cardboard.
5- Cardboard / stiff / paper 11- Copper / good / conductor / lead.
6- Polythene / brittle / material / glass. 12- Iron / poor / conductor / aluminium.

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 c- Crystal structure and others:
1)- powder, crystals, granules, filings, chips, flakes and shavings.
Examples: Flour exists in powder. So it's a powdery substance.
Refined sugar consists of fine white crystals so it's Noun Adjective
crystalline Powder Powdery
When wood is filed, we obtain shavings. crystals crystalline
Fine iron filings are used to show the presence of a granules ganular
magnetic field. filings -
Potato chips chips -
 Sometimes we use the adjectives “fine” or “coarse” with flakes flaky
the nouns above. shavings -
Example: If you touch sand, it’s coarse but flour is fine.

2) - Others: (look at the table below)

Noun Adjective Example
oil oily Nylon is oily; it doesn’t need to be lubricated like the other
plastics.
- runny Water is runny
free-flow free-flowing Milk is a free-flowing white liquid
Thickness thick Honey is thick.
Thinness thin Milk is a thin liquid
Stickiness sticky Glue is sticky
Viscosity viscous
cream creamy The chocolate mousse is smooth and creamy.
gel / jelly gelatinous
paste - Bread is made of a paste
runny = thin ≠ thick – sticky = viscous (more technical)

Exercise: Use the words you have studied to describe the following substances as fully as
possible.
1- jam 3- salt 5- oil for a motor car 7- sand 9- chalk
2- toothpaste 4- glue 6- instant coffee 8- honey 10- butter

Properties of Engineering.
Materials.
It is important to know the properties of engineering materials. For example, steel is used for making
girders because it is an elastic metal. Cast iron is never used for making girders because it is brittle.
The properties of a material determine its use.
Malleability: It is easy to roll a malleable material into a new shape. A malleable material does not
fracture easily under pressure. Gold is extremely malleable. It is possible to roll gold into very thin
sheets. Copper is very malleable and so lead. Glass is not at all malleable and nor is cast iron. It is very
easy to fracture glass with a hammer. Cast iron also fractures easily.
Ductility: It is easy to draw a ductile material. It does not fracture and it retains its new shape. Copper
is extremely ductile. Tin is very ductile and so is aluminium. Steel is not very ductile and nor is lead. It
is very difficult to draw lead into thin wire because it fractures easily.
Elasticity: An elastic material stretches easily under stress. However, remove the stress and it does
not retain its new shape. It regains its original shape. Rubber is extremely elastic. Some steels are quite
elastic. Glass is not at all elastic and nor is cast iron.

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Durability: A durable material does not corrode easily. Under normal conditions, glass is very
durable and so are plastics. Among the metals, chromium is extremely durable and so is aluminium.
Cast iron is not very durable and nor is steel.

d- Describing colour
1)- We can modify our descriptions of colours using the following adjectives: light or
pale, dark or deep and bright .
For example: Gold has a bright yellow colour.
Sulphur has a pale yellow colour.
2)- When the object is not exactly one colour, we can add the suffix « ish » to the colour.
For example: Copper has a reddish-brown colour.
Mercury has a silvery-white colour. (Silver→ Silvery)

Task 1: match each colour with its definition

a- Amber 1- a dark orange-brown colour
b- Bronze 2- a dark yellowish-green colour
c- Crimson 3- a bluish-green colour
d- Mauve 4- a yellowish-brown colour.
e- Turquoise 5- a dark deep red colour
f- Khaki 6- a pale purple colour

Task 2: What colour are these elements?

Copper, mercury, aluminium, zinc, lead, magnesium, tin and coal.

3)- We can describe colour with the following adjectives: opaque, translucent, colourless,
transparent, milky or cloudy and discoloured.
Examples: a- a material which allows light to pass through it, is …................... . Glass is a
….............. .
b- // // // doesn't allow light to pass through it, is ….................. Steel is
…............. .
c- // // // allows some light to pass through it, is ….................. . Ground
glass or “frosted” glass is ….............. .
d- Substances which have no colour like water are …................... Water is a
….......... liquid.
e- A white liquid is sometimes said to be ….............. or …................ . Carbon
dioxide turns lime water …................ .
f- When an object or a substance is dirty. It's said to be …..................... .

e- Describing lustre:
1- As well as colour, objects have different types of lustre .
Surfaces can be: bright – glossy – shiny – dull – matt.
2- They can also be: smooth – rough – uneven – coarse – grainy – corrugated –
abrasive.
Task: Complete these descriptions.
a- Glass is a ….................. solid which usually has a …............. surface.
b- Chalk is a porous solid which has a …............ surface.
c- Some cardboard is …............... to give it extra strength.
d- Mercury is a liquid metal which has a …............... …..................... .
e- Sandpaper has a …................. surface.
f- An unplaned piece of wood has a ….............. surface.
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g-A piece of rubber has a …............... surface

f- The melting, boiling and freezing points:

 Vocabulary
Task 1: What adjectives can we use for these ranges of temperature? (They are very
approximate).
Complete this table:
Adjective Verb Noun
Hot …………… ……………
Warm …………… ……………
Cool …………… ……………
Cold …………… …………....

Task 2: Complete these statements with words from task 1 and from the box below
(verbs should put in
to solidify - to boil - to melt – to freeze –– to vaporize - to liquefy
the right form)

1- At normal temperature, iron is a solid. However when it is ….................. above 1,537°C, it

…............. .
2- Water is a liquid at normal temperatures. However, when it is ….............. below 0°C, it
…....................
3- When water is …........... to 100°C, it …............ .
4- When a substance changes from a solid to a liquid, it is said to …................ .
5- When a substance changes from a liquid to a solid, it is said to …................. .
6- When a substance changes from a liquid to a gas, it is said to …..................... .

Task 3: Complete the statements.

1- The .................. ............... of water is 100°C.
2- The ................ .................. of iron is 1,535°C.
3- The ................ .................. of hydrogen is -259°C.
 Language study:
Study this table:
Metals m.p
Fig. 1 Iron 1535°C
Nickel 1453°C
Tin 232°C
Liquids f.p b.p
Fig. 2 Water 0°C 100°C
Bromine 7°C 58°C
Benzene 5°C 80°C
Gases f.p b.p
Fig. 3 Carbon dioxide -78°C -57°C
Oxygen -219°C -183°C
Hydrogen -259°C -253°C
(a) Iron melts at 1535°C.
(b) Iron has a melting point of 1535°C
(c) The melting poi of iron is 1535°C

In science, the sentence (b) is commonly used.

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Task 1: Use the table above to give other examples.

Task 2: Correct these statements.

a- The solid state, the liquid state and the gaseous state are the three normal states of
matter.
b- Metals are normally liquids
c- Tin has a high melting point
d- Water boils at 0°C and freezes at 100°C
e- Bromine becomes a gas above -7°C
f- Benzene becomes a gas above 80°C
g- CO2 normally solidifies below – 78°C
h- Oxygen normally becomes a liquid above -183°C
i- Hydrogen is in the liquid state between -253°C and -259°C

g- Density, volume and mass.

Task1. Study this table. Density – volume – mass. d= m/v.

Substance Density (g/cm3)

Gold 19.3
Mercury 13.6
Alumi,ium 2.7
Water 1.0
Ice 0.92
Hydrogen* 0.00009
Air*
* at standard temperature.

Mercury has a density of nineteen point three grams per cubic centimetre, i.e. a cubic
centimetre of mercury has 13.6 times the mass of a cubic centimetre of water.
Some useful definitions:
 Density: is the relative compactness of a material . it's the mass of the material
per unit volume.
 Mass: is the amount of matter that's contained with an object.
 The density of a substance is equal to the mass divided by the volume: d= m/v.

Task 2. Ask questions then answer.
Example: does the volume of water change with temperature?
Volume
Does the Density of water change with temperature?

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 Ice A volume More than 1ml/cm3
Does Water Have Less than ?
Steam Of Exactly 3
A density 1g/cm
III- Chemical properties:

In addition to specific physical properties, every substance also possesses definite chemical
properties. The chemical properties of a substance are concerned with its transformation into
other substances. Thus, the fact that coal will burn, iron will rust, and oxygen will support
combustion illustrate chemical properties of these substances. Sand and water do not burn,
gold and platinum do not rust, and nitrogen and helium do not support combustion.

IV- Word study

Task 1. Complete the statements below using the following verbs.

To conduct – to radiate – to expand – to refract – to attract – to corrode – to dissolve – to reflect – to melt –

to contract –to adsorb – to repel – to squash – to squeeze - to absorb
1- Salt ( NaCl) ………………. in water. Verb Noun
2- Water ……………. Electricity.
To conduct Conduction – Conductor
3- Salt (NaCl) …………… iron.
To radiate Radiation
4- A magnet …………….. iron
To expand Expansion
5- The sun …………… heat
To refract Refraction
6- Metal …………….. under heat.
To attract Attraction
7- A mirror …………. light.
To repel Repel – Repulsion
8- A prism …………. light.
To corrode Corrosion
9- Water …………. Ice.
To dissolve Dissolution
10- Some clothes ……… after washing them.
To reflect Reflection
11- Songe ……… water.
to absorb Absorption
12- Chalk ……….. water.
to adsorb Adsorption
13- Equal poles ………. each other.
to melt Melting
to contract Contraction

Exercises about change of state of matter.

Exercise 01: Complete these statements.

1- When a liquid is converted to gas, it's said ………..
2- When a gas liquefies on cooling, it's said ………...
3- When ice melts, it's said. ………..
4- When a liquid solidifies on cooling, it's said ………..
5- When a solid changes to liquid on heating, it's said ………..
6- When a liquid changes to the solid state, it's said ………..
7- When a solid is directly converted into a gas, it is said ………..

Exercise 02: Word study. Complete the table. Verb Noun

To condense Condensation
To sublimate Sublimation
To vaporize Vapour – vaporization
To liquefy Liquefaction 8
To solidify Solidification
To compress Compression
To press Pressure
Exercise 03: Language study. Rewrite these sentences.
Example: 1- Water boils at 100°C → The boiling point of water is 100°C.
2- chromium melts at 1,900°C.
3- sulphuric acid (H2SO4) boils at 338°C.
4- nitric acid (HNO3) boils at 83°C.
5- carbon monoxide (CO) boils at -191°C.
6- molten iron freezes at 1,528°C.
7- alcohol boils at 78.3°C.
8- water freezes at 0°C

Exercise 04: Answer the questions.

1- When is said a substance to melt? To vaporize? To solidify? To liquefy?
2- What are the temperatures at which water boils and freezes under normal conditions?
3- Do other substances freeze and boil at these temperatures?
4- What takes place at 78.3
5- Matter and measurement