Classification of Materials

We use several objects in our day-to-day lives. Pencils, erasers, books, notebooks etc., are objects that you must be using a lot. A substance or a thing that is used to make different objects is called material. Objects around us have different shapes, colours and uses. They are made up of one or more materials such as paper, glass, plastic, cloth, wood, metal, mud, soil, cotton, etc. We employ each of them in accordance with our requirements and in light of their characteristics in this way we are grouping or sorting the things connected to each other.

It is very important to use the right material for making each object. For example, chalk made of materials like wood or plastic would be useless because it cannot be used to write on the blackboard. 

Therefore, it is important for us to know the properties of different kinds of materials around us.

1.0Need of Classification

The act of dividing things into categories, according to some common relations or affinities is called classification.

We can keep dissimilar objects away by the method of classification. Therefore, classification is very important in our lives. It helps us to locate things easily. Classification is very useful for scientists to study different materials and their properties systematically.

Materials can be grouped on the basis of their properties. 

For example, objects in the kitchen can be classified on the basis of shape, like round plates can be classified together in a group, glasses in other categories. Similarly, bowls and spoons can be kept in separate groups.

Classification can be done either on the basis of physical properties or chemical properties. For example, classification of material in three states viz, solid, liquid and gas are on the basis of physical properties whereas classification of materials in acids, bases and salts is on the basis of their chemical properties.

Materials are made for various purpose 

Classification of Materials in Two Groups

In one group we take materials made of paper or wood. In another group we have materials which are not made of paper or wood.

Classification of materials in a group which are used to prepare food

Identifying some materials that each one is made of