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G4 Properties of Matter
G4 Properties of Matter
1:
Materials That Absorb Water
You accidentally spilled water on the
table. You took a dry rag to clean it up.
The rag becomes wet and soft after
wiping the table. The table also dries up.
The rag absorbs the spilled water from
the table. When you squeeze the rag, you
can see the water coming out. The rag is
just an example of materials that absorb
water.
What kind of materials absorb water?
What are the properties of these
materials?
Absorption is the process of taking in liquids in a gradual
manner. A material that can take in liquids like water is known to
be absorbent.
Look at the surface of a sponge. Do you see tiny holes on its surface? Those
tiny holes are known as pores. These pores allow water to get into the sponge
easily. Inside the sponge are loose fibers which create empty spaces. When
water gets into the sponge, it occupies the empty spaces allowing the sponge to
swell a little and hold the water inside it.
Density is the ratio of the amount of matter per occupied space. Simply, it is the
object’s mass divided by its volume.
The ability of a material to float or sink in water is dependent on the density of the
material. Water has a density of 1 gram per milliliter, 1gmL. It means that there
is one gram of water in one milliliter of space that it occupies.
•If the material has a higher density than water, then it will sink. Materials with
density greater than 1gmL will sink in water.
•If the material has a lower density than water, then it will float. Materials with
density less than 1gmL will float in water.
•A 1-peso coin will sink in water because its density is higher than 1gmL.
•A pingpoll ball will float in water because its density is lower than 1gmL.
•An ice cube floats in water because its density is slightly lower than the
density of water.
The Tendency to Absorb Water Affects the Ability of a Material to Sink
or Float in Water
When a material has a tendency to absorb water, the material will first float
in water. After some time, water will enter the material and the material will
sink.
Examples
A porous object like a small, dry sponge placed in a bowl of water initially floats. But
when water gets into the pores of the sponge, the water occupies the spaces inside it. The
sponge becomes denser and sinks in the water.
Shape Also Affects the Ability of a Material to Sink or Float in Water
When the shape of a material is dispersed across its mass, the material will
float. When the shape of a material is concentrated on a certain point, the
material will sink.
Examples
A ball of clay when dropped in a glass of water sinks. But when you reshape it into an
elongated shape with space at the center, it will float in water. Upon reshaping the clay,
the space occupied by the clay becomes larger than its mass. Hence, it is less dense than
water and the ball of clay.
Key Points
•A material floats if it stays on the surface of the water. A material sinks
when it goes at the bottom after putting it in a liquid.
•If the material has a higher density than water, then it will sink. If the
material has a lower density than water, then it will float. Water has a density
of one gram per milliliter (1 g/mL)
•The ability to float or sink in water is also affected by its ability to absorb
water and shape of the object. Porous materials which
•absorb water tend to sink.
Check Your Understanding
1.leaves
2.paper
3.rocks
4.marbles
5.chocolate drink
6.metal spoon
Decaying materials may be seen anywhere. You may
see a rotten portion of a log, a crumbling remains of an
insect in a garden, a spoiled fruit left in the open on
your dining table, or soured milk left on the bedside
table when you forgot to drink it the other night. Have
you ever asked what will happen if you are exposed to
decaying materials? What will happen if someone
accidentally ate spoiled food? Decaying materials may
bring harm to one’s health and safety in various ways.
•As insects continue to fly and land on different places, they also carry and
transfer germs on materials they are in contact.
Possible Diseases from Flies, Mosquitoes, Cockroaches, and
Rats
•Decaying materials may bring harm to one’s health and safety in various
ways.
•A dumpsite is a place where garbage is disposed and buried underground.
•Flies, mosquitoes, cockroaches, and rats found in dumpsites may bring
different diseases to humans.
•Germs are microorganisms, bacteria, or viruses from decaying matter that
cause diseases.