Materials can be sorted into groups based on their physical state as solids, liquids, or gases. Solids maintain a definite shape and volume while liquids have an indefinite shape but definite volume, and gases have indefinite shape and volume. Materials can also be classified based on their appearance, hardness, solubility, transparency, whether they are metals or non-metals, and other properties. Hard materials are difficult to compress while soft materials are easy to compress. Soluble materials dissolve in water while insoluble materials do not. Transparent materials allow light to pass through, opaque materials do not allow light, and translucent materials allow partial light. Metals are hard, lustrous, and conduct heat and electricity well while non

1. VIDYA BHARTI EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS
SCIENCE NOTES CLASS 6TH
SORTING MATERIALS INTO GROUPS
All things are made of one or more materials.
Same things can be made from different types of materials.
It may be man-made or naturally occurring
Materials occupy space.
Materials have mass.
Materials can be classified on the basis of many criteria.
Materials can be classified on the basis of physical state; as solid, liquid and
gas.
Solid Liquid & Gas
Solid: Solid has definite shape and definite volume. Examples: Stones, wood,
plastic, common salt, steel, ice, glass, etc.
Liquid: Liquid has indefinite shape but definite volume. Examples: Water, milk,
oil, etc.
Gas: Gas has indefinite shape and indefinite volume. Examples: Oxygen,
nitrogen, carbon dioxide, etc.
Other Criteria For Sorting Materials:
Appearance: Different materials look different from each other. The
appearance depends on colour, hardness, texture, and lustre.
Hardness: hardness is another property of materials. Some materials are very
hard while some are very soft.
CONTACT: 9654089891, 9811083910, 9953898004
HEAD OFFICE: 131/12 KRISHNA COLONY, STREET NO 4, NEAR SHIV MANDIR, GURGAON

2. VIDYA BHARTI EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS
SCIENCE NOTES CLASS 6TH
SORTING MATERIALS INTO GROUPS
Hard: Material which are difficult to compress are called hard, e.g. diamond,
stone, wood, steel, etc. Diamond is the hardest natural substance.
Soft: Materials which can be compressed easily are called soft, e.g. chalk,
cotton, rubber, etc.
Solubility or insolubility:
Soluble: Material which easily dissolves in water is called soluble, e.g. salt,
sugar, alum, etc.
Insoluble: Material which does not dissolve in water is called insoluble, e.g.
sand, chalk, iron, etc.
Note: Since water is considered as universal solvent, so solubility in water is
taken as standard in most of the definitions; related to solubility.
Transparent: The material which allows light to pass through it is called
transparent, e.g. acrylic sheet, glass, water, air, etc.
Opaque: The material which does not allow light to pass through it is called
opaque, e.g. wood, iron, asbestos, etc.
Translucent: The material through which light can pass partially is called
translucent, e.g. butter paper, thin curtain, etc.
Metals: Materials which are hard, have such luster and are good conductors of
heat and electricity are called metals, e.g. iron, copper, gold, etc.
CONTACT: 9654089891, 9811083910, 9953898004
HEAD OFFICE: 131/12 KRISHNA COLONY, STREET NO 4, NEAR SHIV MANDIR, GURGAON

3. VIDYA BHARTI EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS
SCIENCE NOTES CLASS 6TH
SORTING MATERIALS INTO GROUPS
Non-metal: Materials which are brittle, which don’t have luster and are bad
conductors of heat and electricity are called non-metals, e.g. coal, chalk,
rubber, soil, etc.
CONTACT: 9654089891, 9811083910, 9953898004
HEAD OFFICE: 131/12 KRISHNA COLONY, STREET NO 4, NEAR SHIV MANDIR, GURGAON