8th Grade Integrated Science
Standard 1, Objective 1
Title: Using Properties to Classify Matter
Description: Students will use chemical and physical properties to classify common substances.
Materials: Student sheet (below), textbook, computer (optional)
Time Needed: 30-40 minutes
Background Knowledge: Students should know what chemical and physical properties are.
Procedures:
1. If you have not already explained to students how to identify characteristics and examples of chemical and physical properties, use your textbook and have students read about them.
2. Give students time to fill in their charts and answer the analysis questions.
3. Working in groups of 3-4, have students compare answers and call on groups to report their answers.
Scoring Guide:
1. Student correctly lists chemical and physical properties for the substances..4
2. Student correctly lists at least 2 substances for Table II…………………..….4
3. Student correctly answers analysis questions…………………………….…...4
Answers:
1. flexibility, hardness, color, shape, size, density, phase, melting, boiling pts
2. flammability, reactivity with other chemicals, reacts with water or air
3. Size, shape, taste, wrapper, cost
4. size shape, wrapper and cost are physical, taste is chemical
5. physical
6. chemical
7. Candles have a color, shape, density, waxy feel
8. Candles are flammable, do not react with water or rust
4. Conclusion is thoughtfully written……………………………………………..4
Student SheetName______
Title: Using Properties to Classify Matter
Introduction: In this activity you will use chemical and physical properties to classify substances.
Procedure:
1. Use your textbook or a computer to help you find out about chemical and physical properties of each substance listed in Table I. You should have at least two properties for chemical and two for physical for each substance.
2. Pick two substances that you are interested in to add to the table and do the same for them.
3. On the table II, use the characteristics and list substances that you know of which have the properties listed. Add two properties you are interested in and do the same for them.
Data: Table I
Substance / Chemical Properties / Physical PropertiesWater
Salt
Copper Penny
Wood
Plastic
Table II-Write at least two substances for each property.
Property / Substances that have this property: / Substances that do not have this property:Flammable
Dissolve in water
Soft
Rusts
Melt at room temperature
Analysis:
1. Which of the properties you listed are physical properties?
2. Which are chemical properties?
3. Describe three properties that you look for when you select a candy bar to eat.
4. Which of these properties is physical?
Chemical?
5. Which properties describe what the substance is like?
6. Which properties describe how the substance reacts with other substances?
7. Describe the physical properties of a candle.
8. Describe the chemical properties of a candle.
Conclusion:
Analysis:
1. Which properties describe what the substance is like?
2. Which properties describe how the substance reacts with other substances?
3. Describe the physical properties of a candle.
4. Describe the chemical properties of a candle.