Materials and their Uses

Which of the following best describes flammability?

• The ability of a material to dissolve in water

• The ease with which a material can catch fire and burn

• The tendency of a material to react with oxygen in the air

• The ability of a material to conduct electricity

What is an example of a flammable material?

• glass

• metal

• paper

• rock

When iron reacts with oxygen and moisture in the air, what does it form?

• aluminum oxide

• rust

• carbon dioxide

• hydrogen gas

Which of the following materials is biodegradable?

• plastic drinking straw

• nylon fishing line

• banana peel

• Styrofoam packaging

What happens to a banana peel when it is discarded in a natural environment?

• It remains unchanged indefinitely.

• It decomposes into simpler organic compounds

• It reacts with other materials to form new substances.

• It breaks down into smaller pieces over time.

Sarah wants to dispose of her plastic water bottle. Plastic is harmful to the environment , so she wants to choose a more eco-friendly option. Which of the following materials should Sarah choose if she wants a biodegradable option?

• Plastic water bottle

• Glass bottle

• Aluminum can

• Biodegradable paper cup

Tom is conducting an experiment in his science class. He wants to observe how different materials react with vinegar. Which of the following materials is most likely to produce bubbles when mixed with vinegar?

• Metal paperclip

• Plastic drinking straw

• Glass marble

• Cotton ball

Emily is decorating her room and wants to hang up some pictures using metal nails. She is worried about the nails rusting over time. What can Emily do to prevent the nails from rusting?

• Paint the nails with a waterproof sealant

• Keep the room temperature low to slow the rusting process

• Use plastic nails instead of metal nails

• Nothing, as rusting in inevitable for metal nails

David is helping his mom in the kitchen. She accidentally spills lemon juice on the marble countertop. What is likely to happen to the marble over time?

• The marble will remain unchanged.

• The marble will dissolve and disappear.

• The marble will develop stains and discoloration.

• The marble will react with the lemon juice to form a new substance.

Anna is packing her lunch for school. She wants to use a material for her sandwich wrapper that will break down easily when discarded. Which of the following materials should Anna choose?

• Plastic cling film

• Aluminum foil

• Biodegradable wax paper

• Styrofoam container