Chapter 2 – Properties of Substances

Unit 2.1 – Physical and

Chemical Properties
Activity 1 – Pre-Quiz
• Explain what causes fog or mist.
• Explain why it is easy to squash an
empty plastic soft drink bottle, but not
a full one.
• Identify what a model is used for (in
science).
• List the three main states of matter
AND state an example of each.
Activity 2 – Vocabulary pre-view
Activity 2 – Vocabulary pre-view

bacteria or fungi breaks down the

substance into simpler substances
how substances react with other
substances
squashed

not able to be compressed or squashed

doesn’t rot or break down

smell

describe things about the substance like its

appearance, melting, freezing and boiling points and
its hardness
the fourth state of matter; found in
sparks, lightning bolts and in stars
solid, liquid, gas (and also plasma at
temperatures above 6000oC)
• Read: Red box (p. 43)
Activity 3 – Science 4 Fun: What is
foam?

1. Describe what the shaving foam looks

like.
2. Does the foam flow or change shape
without being pushed around?
3. Does a small object stay on top of the
foam or does it sink?
4. What does the foam look like after
being left for a day? Describe what
happened to the foam and explain why
you think this happened.
• Read: Physical properties (p. 43)
Activity 4 –Physical Properties of
Substances

Objects can be classified as solid, liquid or gas by the

way they look and act – these are the object’s physical
properties. Testing a substance for its physical
properties does not destroy the substance, or change it
into anything new.

Some of the most useful physical properties of a

substance are:
• whether it’s a solid, liquid or gas at room temperature
(normally taken as 25oC)
• the temperatures at which the substance freezes or
boils (known as its freezing point and boiling point)
• its appearance (such as its colour and texture, the
shape of any crystals within it and whether it is shiny
or dull)
• its density (how heavy it is compared to other
substances of the same size)
• how hard or brittle the substance is (whether it is
easily scratched or whether it crumbles)
• whether the substance dissolves in different liquids
(known as solubility)
• its ability to let heat or electricity pass through it
(known as its thermal and electrical conductivity).
Activity 4 – continued
Activity 4 – continued

1
6
4
3
2
5
7
Activity 5 – Physical Properties
Used To Classify Solids, Liquids
and Gases
Substances exist in either solid, liquid or
gaseous form. The scientific term for these
forms is states (or phases) of matter.

A range of physical properties can be used to

classify solids, liquids and gases.
1. Describe what you think the difference is between
solid, liquid and gas.
• Read: Solids, liquids and gases (p. 44-45)
Activity 5 – continued
Activity 5 – continued
shape
fixed
compressed
sink

size
volume
flow
bottom
incompressible

invisible
spread
container
no fixed
Can compressed
• Some everyday things are made
up of just one substance and one
state of matter.
• Other substances are a mixture
of:
– Solids and liquids
– Liquids and gases
– Solids and gases
– A combination of all three states.
• Orange juice is mainly liquid, but it
has tiny flakes of solid pulp which
usually sink to the bottom of the
bottle.
• Orange juice is mainly liquid, but it
has tiny flakes of solid pulp which
usually sink to the bottom of the
bottle.

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 
  
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 Activity 6 – ICT: Investigating
differences between liquids and solids
• Read: The fourth state (p. 45)
Activity 7 – The Fourth State (of matter)
Activity 7 – The Fourth State (of matter)

gas matter

above
stars lightning
 Activity Book 2.1
• Complete Activity Book 2.1 (p. 15 & 16)
• Read: Chemical properties (p. 45)
Activity 8 –Chemical Properties of
Substances

Chemical properties describe how a substance reacts

with other substances. A new substance is formed in the
process, often with very different properties.

Some examples of chemical properties are whether a

substance:
• Burns or explodes in oxygen (this is known as
combustion).
• Rusts or corrodes (known as corrosion) or is
corrosion-resistant.
• Is an acid (like vinegar) or a base (like bicarbonate of
soda) or neither – this is measured by its pH.
• Reacts quickly or slowly with other chemicals (this is
known as the rate of reaction).
Activity 8 – continued
Activity 8 – continued

4
1
2
3
 Activity 9 – Practical
Investigation: Oobleck
Activity 9 - continued
Activity 9 - continued
Activity 9 - continued
• Has fixed size and volume
• Is able to flow
• Takes the shape of the bottom of the
container it is in
• Incompressible

• Has fixed size and volume

• Cannot be compressed

A non-Newtonian fluid is a liquid that behaves like a

solid when pressure is applied.
• Read: Choosing the right substance (p. 46)
• Read: Learning Across the Curriculum: Biodegradability
(p. 46)
 Activity 10 – Learning Across
the Curriculum: Biodegradability