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Materials And Their Classification Based on Properties - Testbook
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Defining a Material
A material is a comprehensive term for a chemical substance or mixture of substances that make up an object. Materials we encounter in our everyday life vary from each other. They are distinct based on different properties, such as hardness, transparency, and visual appeal.
Categorizing Materials
Let's delve into the categorization based on their physical properties:
Appearance:
Materials can be distinguished based on their appearance. Some materials, like diamonds and gold , are shiny or lustrous. On the other hand, materials like coal and wood lack shine and are known as non-lustrous materials. Shiny objects such as silver, gold, and bronze are typically classified as metals.
Hardness:
Consider washing clothes. The soap can easily be squashed, while the washing board is rigid. Similarly, materials like chalk can be easily scratched, while others like steel resist scratching. Materials that are easily compressed or scratched are known as soft substances, while those that resist compression and scratching are called hard substances.
Transparency:
Think back to your childhood days of playing hide-and-seek. We always tried to hide behind objects through which one cannot see, like a cupboard or a wall. Such objects are known as opaque objects. On the other hand, materials through which we can clearly see are called transparent objects, like a window. Materials through which objects are partially visible are known as translucent objects, like frosted glass.
Objects can also be differentiated on the basis of several other properties like magnetic properties, solubility etc.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a material?
A material is a broad term for a chemical substance or mixture of substances that constitute a thing. They differ from each other on the basis of different properties such as hardness, transparency, and appearance.
How are materials classified based on appearance?
Materials can be differentiated from each other on the basis of their looks. Some like diamond and gold are shiny in nature i.e. lustrous. Whereas some other materials like graphite and wood do not appear shiny and are generally known as non-lustrous materials.
How are materials classified based on hardness?
Materials that can be compressed or scratched easily are referred to as easy substances. Whereas materials that are difficult to scratch and compress are termed as hard substances.
How are materials classified based on transparency?
Materials through which we can clearly see the objects are known as transparent objects. For example glass etc. Materials through which objects are partially visible are known as a translucent object. For example oily patch paper.