Properties of Matter Quick Check

A student places objects in a bucket of water to determine if they will float. Which set of items is less dense than water?

• Plastic paper clip, penny, and cork

• Toothpick, metal spoon, and plastic paper clip

• Metal spoon, vegetable oil, and penny

• Toothpick, cork, and vegetable oil

A student is classifying objects. Answering which question will provide the best evidence that an object is a metal?

• What is its mass?

• What is its physical state?

• Does it conduct thermal energy?

• How quickly does it dissolve in water?

A student compares the physical properties of the four objects shown. (Rock, Rubber eraser, Paper cup, Wooden block) Which of these physical properties do all four objects have in common?

• They all have the same physical state and conduct electricity.

• They all conduct electricity and attract the same metal objects.

• They all attract the same metal objects and are not soluble in water.

• They are all not soluble in water and have the same physical state.

Students investigate the physical properties of some substances. They draw a table to show how the substances can be grouped. The students need to complete the table with column headings. Which column headings should the students use for their table?

• Good Insulators of Thermal Energy / Is Attracted by Magnets / Same Physical State

• Good Conductors of Electrical Energy / Less Dense than Water / Soluble in Water

• Soluble in Water / Same Physical State / Less Dense than Water

• Is Attracted by Magnets / Good Conductors of Electrical Energy / Good Insulators of Thermal Energy

A student is asked to design a sleeve for a cup that will insulate thermal energy and not feel hot to the touch when the cup is filled with hot liquid. Which of these materials is least useful as an insulator?

• Cardboard

• Aluminum

• Rubber

• Plastic

To determine which of two identical-looking pieces of metal is a magnet, you should:

• See if one piece attracts the other piece of metal.

• Check if both pieces are heavier than usual.

• Look for a label that says 'magnet' on one piece.

• Test if both pieces can float in water.

You are given two similar substances. One is powdered chalk. The other is powdered sugar. How can you use the property of solubility to determine the identity of each substance?

• Dissolve both in water; sugar will dissolve, chalk will not.

• Heat both substances; sugar will melt, chalk will not.

• Expose both to light; sugar will change color, chalk will not.

• Mix both with vinegar; sugar will fizz, chalk will not.