Class 6 Science Curiosity Chapter 6 Materials Around Us
Question 1. Visit your kitchen and observe how your parents have organised various edibles. Can you suggest a better sorting method? Write it in your notebook.
Answer: We can sort kitchen items in a better way by grouping similar things together:
- Pulses: Moong dal, chana dal, urad dal, arhar dal
- Cereals: Rice, dalia, wheat flour, maize flour
- Spices: Red chilli powder, salt, clove, black pepper, ajwain, cumin (jeera), coriander seeds, turmeric powder, garam masala
- Oils and Ghee: Mustard oil, soybean oil, olive oil, cow ghee
- Others: Jams and squashes
This makes the kitchen more organised and easy to use.
Question 2. Unscramble the letters (Column I) and match them with their properties (Column II).
Answer:
| Column I | Column II |
| (i) MATTER | (b) Occupies space and has mass. |
| (ii) SOLUBLE | (d) Mix completely in water. |
| (iii) TRANSPARENT | (a) Objects can be seen clearly through it. |
| (iv) LUSTRE | (c) Shiny surface. |
Question 3. The containers which are used to store materials in shops and at home are usually transparent. Give your reasons for this.
Answer: Containers are usually transparent so we can see what is inside without opening them. This makes it easy to find and use the right material quickly.
Question 4. State whether the statements given below are True [T] or False [F], Correct the False statements).
(i) Wood is translucent while glass is opaque.
Answer: False
Wood is opaque while glass is transparent.
(ii) Aluminium foil has lustre while an eraser does not.
Answer: True
(iii) Sugar dissolves in water whereas sawdust does not.
Answer: True
(iv) An apple is a matter because it occupies no space and has mass.
Answer: False
An apple is a matter because it occupies space and has mass.
Question 5. We see chairs made up of various materials, such as wood, iron, plastic, bamboo, cement, and stones. Following are some desirable properties of materials which can be used to make chairs. Which materials used to make chairs fulfil these properties the most?
(i) Hardness (does not bend or shake on sitting even after long use).
(ii) Lightweight (easy to lift or to take from one place to another).
(iii) Does not feel very cold when sitting during winter.
(iv) Can be cleaned regularly and made to look new even after long use.
Answer:
(i) Iron, cement and stones
(ii) Plastic and bamboo
(in) Wood and bamboo
(iv) Plastic, iron, cement and stones
Question 6. You need to have containers for collection of (i) food waste, (ii) broken glass, and (iii) wastepaper. Which materials will you choose for containers of these types of waste? What properties of materials do you need to think of?
Answer:
For (i) food waste, use leak-proof plastic containers that do not react with food.
For (ii) broken glass, use strong plastic or metal containers to avoid injury.
For (iii) wastepaper, use lightweight and durable containers like cardboard or plastic bins.
We should think about properties like leak resistance, strength, safety, and durability depending on the type of waste.
Question 7. Air is all around us but does not hinder us from seeing each other. Whereas, if a wooden door comes in between, we cannot see each other. It is because air is ________ and ________ the wooden door is ______
Choose the most appropriate option:
(i) transparent, opaque
(ii) translucent, transparent
(iii) opaque, translucent
(iv) transparent, translucent
Answer: (i) transparent, opaque
Question 8. Imagine you have two mysterious materials, X and Y. When you try to press material X, it feels rigid and does not change its shape easily. On the other hand, material Y easily changes its shape when you press it. Now, when you mix both materials in water, only material X dissolves completely, while material Y remains unchanged. What can materials X and Y be? Can you identify whether material X is hard or soft? What about material Y? Justify your answer.
Answer:
Material X could be sugar crystals, as it is hard (does not change shape easily) and dissolves in water.
Material Y could be a rubber block, as it is soft (changes shape when pressed) and does not dissolve in water.
So, Material X is hard, and Material Y is soft.
This is because hardness means it does not change shape easily, and softness means it can be pressed and shaped easily.
Question 9.
(i) Who am I? Identify me on the basis of the given properties.
(a) I have lustre.
(b) I can be easily compressed.
(c) I am hard and soluble in water.
(d) You cannot see clearly through me.
(e) I have mass and volume but you cannot see me.
(ii) Make your own Who am I?’
Answer:
(i) (a) steel
(b) rubber
(c) sugar
(d) cardboard or plywood
(e) air
(ii) (a) You can see clearly through me
(b) I am soft
(c) I am non-lustrous
(d) I am liquid and insoluble in water
(e) I cannot be compressed easily.
Question 10. You are provided with the following materials—vinegar, honey, mustard oil, water, glucose, and wheat flour.
Make any two pairs of materials where one material is soluble in the other. Now, make two pairs of materials where one material remains insoluble in the other material.
Answer:
Soluble pairs
(i) Water and glucose
(ii) Water and vinegar
Insoluble pairs
(i) Water and mustard oil
(ii) Water and wheat flour