A material that is shiny, hard and a good thermal and electrical conductor.

Long chained molecules formed by joining together monomers.

A mixture of two or more elements where at least one element is a metal.

A material made from two or more different types of materials. When combined they create a new material with improved properties.

Materials and composites: including metals, ceramics and polymers

Science

In the Using Earth's Resources unit, pupils will build on their knowledge of materials to explore the extraction and purification of metals, life cycle assessments, and recycling.

In the Acids and Bases unit, pupils learned about the properties of acids, bases, alkalis, and the neutralisation reaction.

Materials

atoms in glass are arranged differently to those in clay ceramics

ceramics and glass are made at very different temperatures

ceramics are made from soft clay; glass is made from hard sand

clay particles are larger than sand particles

Clay and sand both consist of silicates with different particle sizes. Ceramics made from clay are opaque, while glass made from sand is typically transparent. How do these different properties occur?

By noting the sound they make when tapped.

If you couldn't see them, how would you distinguish between a metal, a ceramic, and a plastic vase of the same shape and size?

Polymers are monomers joined together into long chains, sometimes with chemical connections between the chains. Poly(ester) and poly(propene) are polymers and specific examples of {{}}.

a mixture of two or more elements; at least one element is a metal

 a hard, brittle, heat-resistant material, often containing silica

made from at least two types of materials with improved properties

a shiny, hard material that is a good thermal and electrical conductor

long chained molecules formed by joining together monomers

Match the following key words to their definition.

Alloys and composites both have new properties compared to their components and can't be separated by simple methods. Steel is an example of an {{}}, as it is a mixture of iron and other elements.

By stretching the concrete to see if it stretches significantly.

By applying pressure to see if the concrete squashes or deforms easily.

By checking if the concrete cracks under stress.

By observing if the concrete has a uniform texture.

A practical method for scientists to determine the physical properties of materials is by conducting tests. How can you distinguish between plain and reinforced concrete if the pieces look similar?

Everything around us is made of {{}}. These are the substances that objects are made from. They can be natural (e.g. wood and stone) or human–made (e.g. plastic and steel).

What do you call the features of a material that can be observed or measured?

a way in which something can be used for a particular purpose

the process of sorting objects into groups

a testable statement about a possible outcome of an experiment

Which of the following materials can be transparent?

the ability to break or shatter easily when a force is applied

a substance that allows a flow of charge (electrical current)

a substance that transfers energy by conduction

the ability to let light pass through so you can see clearly through

Match the following key words or phrases to their definition.

Scientific methods include observation, measurement, and manipulations (e.g. heating) to determine material properties. All these actions can be part of a scientific ...

This lesson will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

Materials and composites: including metals, ceramics and polymers

Lesson outcome

This lesson will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.