Materials Around Us — Class 6 Science NCERT Solutions (Free)
Free step-by-step NCERT solutions for Class 6 Science chapter "Materials Around Us" — 8 important questions with detailed answers for CBSE board exam preparation.
TL;DR: Free step-by-step NCERT solutions for Class 6 Science chapter "Materials Around Us" — 8 important questions with detailed answers for CBSE board exam…
Written & reviewed by the Syllab.in Academic Team (CBSE/NCERT subject experts) · Updated
NCERT Solutions for Class 6 Science — Materials Around Us. Step-by-step answers to all 8 textbook questions from this chapter, written for CBSE board preparation and free to use.
Materials Around Us — All 8 Questions Solved
Q1. What are materials and how are they classified?
Materials are substances used to make things. They are classified into:
- Natural materials (wood, cotton, leather, stone)
- Synthetic/Artificial materials (plastic, glass, steel, rubber)
Q2. Define properties of materials and give examples.
Properties are characteristics that help identify and describe materials:
- Physical properties (color, shape, texture, size)
- Chemical properties (ability to burn, rust, react with other substances)
Q3. What is transparency in materials? Name transparent and opaque materials.
Transparency is the property of allowing light to pass through so we can see through the material.
Transparent: glass, water, air
Opaque: wood, metal, stone, paper
Q4. What is hardness and how are materials sorted by hardness?
Hardness is the ability of a material to resist scratching or denting. Materials are sorted as:
- Hard (diamond, steel, stone)
- Soft (cotton, rubber, clay, sponge)
Q5. What is solubility in materials?
Solubility is the ability of a material to dissolve in a liquid like water. Materials are classified as:
- Soluble (sugar, salt, flour dissolve in water)
- Insoluble (sand, stone, oil do not dissolve in water)
Q6. What is elasticity and give examples of elastic materials.
Elasticity is the property of a material to return to its original shape after being stretched or compressed.
Examples: rubber band, spring, sponge, foam.
Q7. How do we sort materials into groups?
We sort materials based on their properties:
- By origin (natural or synthetic)
- By properties (hardness, transparency, elasticity)
- By uses (building materials, clothing materials, cooking materials)
Q8. Name three natural materials and three synthetic materials used in daily life.
Natural materials: wood (furniture), cotton (clothes), leather (shoes)
Synthetic materials: plastic (bags), glass (bottles), steel (utensils)
Materials Around Us — Practice MCQs with Answers
Attempt these 20 multiple-choice questions after working through the solutions above. Each carries the correct option and the reasoning behind it, so a wrong answer tells you which idea to revisit.
MCQ 1. Which of the following materials allows light to pass through it completely, allowing us to see clearly?
- A. Wood
- B. Cardboard
- C. Glass
- D. Wall
Answer: C. Glass — Materials that allow light to pass through them completely are called transparent materials. Glass is a common example of a transparent material.
MCQ 2. Which of these materials is generally the hardest to compress or scratch?
- A. Cotton
- B. Sponge
- C. Stone
- D. Rubber
Answer: C. Stone — Hard materials are difficult to compress or scratch. Among the given options, stone is the hardest material.
MCQ 3. Which of the following substances will completely disappear when stirred in water?
- A. Sand
- B. Sugar
- C. Oil
- D. Sawdust
Answer: B. Sugar — Substances that dissolve completely in water are called soluble substances. Sugar is soluble in water, while sand, oil, and sawdust are insoluble.
MCQ 4. If you drop a small piece of wood and a small iron nail into a bucket of water, what will happen?
- A. Both will sink
- B. Both will float
- C. Wood will sink and nail will float
- D. Wood will float and nail will sink
Answer: D. Wood will float and nail will sink — Materials less dense than water, like wood, float. Materials denser than water, like iron nails, sink.
MCQ 5. Which of these materials typically has a shiny appearance?
- A. Wood
- B. Cotton
- C. Plastic
- D. Gold
Answer: D. Gold — Materials that have a shiny surface are said to possess lustre. Metals like gold are known for their characteristic shine.
MCQ 6. Why is it important to group materials with similar properties?
- A. To make them look beautiful
- B. To make them heavier
- C. To study their properties conveniently and use them for suitable purposes
- D. To make them disappear
Answer: C. To study their properties conveniently and use them for suitable purposes — Grouping materials helps us to study their properties in an organized manner and makes it easier to select materials for specific uses.
MCQ 7. Which material would be most suitable for making a windowpane that needs to be strong and allow clear vision?
- A. Cardboard
- B. Wood
- C. Glass
- D. Plastic sheet (thin)
Answer: C. Glass — Windowpanes require materials that are transparent for clear vision and reasonably hard to provide structural integrity. Glass best fits these criteria.
MCQ 8. Which of the following is an insoluble substance in water?
- A. Salt
- B. Vinegar
- C. Chalk powder
- D. Milk
Answer: C. Chalk powder — Chalk powder does not dissolve in water; it forms a suspension or settles down. Salt and vinegar are soluble, and milk forms a colloidal mixture.
MCQ 9. A material that does not allow any light to pass through it is called:
- A. Transparent
- B. Translucent
- C. Opaque
- D. Lustrous
Answer: C. Opaque — Opaque materials completely block the passage of light, making it impossible to see through them.
MCQ 10. Why is cotton chosen over plastic for making clothes that absorb sweat?
- A. Cotton is cheaper than plastic
- B. Cotton is more colourful than plastic
- C. Cotton is a good absorber of water
- D. Plastic is too shiny for clothes
Answer: C. Cotton is a good absorber of water — Cotton fabrics are porous and have excellent water-absorbing properties, which makes them suitable for absorbing sweat and keeping the body dry. Plastic is generally non-absorbent.
MCQ 11. When oil is mixed with water, what happens?
- A. Oil dissolves completely in water
- B. Water dissolves completely in oil
- C. Oil forms a separate layer on top of water
- D. They form a cloudy mixture
Answer: C. Oil forms a separate layer on top of water — Oil and water are immiscible liquids. Oil is also less dense than water, so it floats and forms a distinct layer on the surface of water.
MCQ 12. Which of these is a metal?
- A. Wood
- B. Glass
- C. Iron
- D. Paper
Answer: C. Iron — Iron is a well-known metal, recognized by its hardness, lustre, and conductivity, unlike wood, glass, or paper.
MCQ 13. Which property distinguishes a brick from a piece of glass?
- A. Hardness
- B. Colour
- C. Opacity
- D. Smoothness
Answer: C. Opacity — While both can be hard and have various colours or smoothness, the primary difference is that a brick is opaque (doesn't let light pass), whereas glass is typically transparent or translucent.
MCQ 14. If you stir a small amount of soil into a glass of water, what will you observe after some time?
- A. The soil will completely dissolve
- B. The water will become clear again
- C. The soil particles will settle down at the bottom
- D. The water will turn into mud
Answer: C. The soil particles will settle down at the bottom — Soil is insoluble in water. When stirred, it forms a suspension, but over time, the heavier soil particles settle down due to gravity, making the water clearer at the top.
MCQ 15. Which material is most commonly used to make electrical wires due to its good conductivity?
- A. Wood
- B. Rubber
- C. Copper
- D. Plastic
Answer: C. Copper — Copper is a metal known for being an excellent conductor of electricity, making it ideal for electrical wires. Wood and plastic are insulators, and rubber is used as an insulator coating.
MCQ 16. Which of the following materials is typically used to make windowpanes due to its ability to let light pass through completely?
- A. Wood
- B. Metal
- C. Glass
- D. Fabric
Answer: C. Glass — Glass is a transparent material, meaning it allows light to pass through it completely, making it ideal for windowpanes to let light into a room.
MCQ 17. Objects that allow some light to pass through them, but not clearly, are known as:
- A. Transparent
- B. Opaque
- C. Translucent
- D. Lustrous
Answer: C. Translucent — Translucent materials allow light to pass through them partially, causing objects viewed through them to appear blurry or unclear.
MCQ 18. Which of these materials is generally considered 'soft' because it can be compressed or scratched easily?
- A. Stone
- B. Iron
- C. Cotton
- D. Wood
Answer: C. Cotton — Cotton is a soft material that can be easily compressed and is not resistant to scratching, unlike stone, iron, or wood.
MCQ 19. When sugar is added to water and stirred, it seems to disappear. This property of sugar is called:
- A. Hardness
- B. Lustre
- C. Solubility
- D. Transparency
Answer: C. Solubility — Solubility is the property of a substance (solute) to dissolve in another substance (solvent), like sugar dissolving in water.
MCQ 20. Which of the following is an example of an opaque material?
- A. Clear plastic sheet
- B. Frosted glass
- C. Wooden door
- D. Water
Answer: C. Wooden door — An opaque material does not allow any light to pass through it, and a wooden door completely blocks light.
How to Use These Solutions
Attempt each question yourself first and only then compare with the worked answer. Marks in the CBSE board exam are awarded for the METHOD as much as the final result, so reproduce the steps rather than memorising the last line. Where a solution states a law, a formula or a definition, learn that wording — examiners look for it.
Related practice for this chapter: chapter MCQs, previous-year questions, revision notes and sample papers.