NCERT Solutions for Class 6th Science Chapter 6 Materials Around Us
Updated on 2026-09-19
About this chapter
Any substance used to create an object is a material . One object can be made of several materials (a pen = plastic + metal + ink) and one material can make many objects (glass → tumbler, window, bangle, bottle). Arranging objects into groups is called classification . We classify on the basis of a common property — shape, colour, lustre, hardness, transparency, solubility, and so on. Appearance: materials with a shiny surface are lustrous (mostly metals — iron, copper, zinc, aluminium, gold); dull ones are non-lustrous (paper, wood, rubber, jute). But “all that glitters is not gold” — a polished or plastic-coated surface can shine without being a metal. Feel: materials that are difficult to compress or scratch are hard (stone, iron, brick); those easily compressed or scratched are soft (s
- .1 Observing Objects Around Us
- .2 How to Group Materials?
- .3.1 Observe and identify appearance of materials
- .3.1–6.3.2 Lustre and hardness
- .3.2 Which materials are hard?
- .3.4 What is soluble in water; what is not?
- .3.5 How heavy or light?
- .3.6 Space and volume
- .4 What is Matter?
- Chapter games
Quick revision
| Term | What it means | How you test for it | Everyday Indian example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Material | Any substance used to create an object | Ask: what is this thing made of? | Steel in a tumbler, baked clay in a diya |
| Classification | The method of arranging objects into groups on the basis of a common property | Pick one property and sort everything by it | A grocer keeping all spices in one corner |
| Lustrous / Non-lustrous | Lustrous = shiny surface (usually a metal); non-lustrous = dull surface | Hold it in sunlight — does it shine? | Copper wire, aluminium foil (lustrous); jute rope, chalk (non-lustrous) |
| Hard | Difficult to compress or to scratch | Press it with your hand; scratch it with a metal key | Brick, stone, iron tawa |
| Soft | Easily compressed or scratched | It dents under your thumb, the key leaves a mark | Pillow, eraser, chalk, sponge |
| Transparent | Things can be seen clearly through it | Hold your book behind it — can you read the letters? | Window glass, clean water, air, cellophane |
| Translucent | Things can be seen, but not clearly | The letters look blurred and hazy | Butter paper, frosted glass of a bathroom door |
| Opaque | Nothing can be seen through it at all | No light comes through; you see only a shadow | Wooden door, cardboard carton, steel plate |
| Soluble | Dissolves in water and disappears | Stir a spoonful in water, wait a few minutes — nothing is left to see | Sugar and salt in shikanji; ORS powder |
| Insoluble | Does not dissolve; stays visible, settles down or floats | Even after long stirring the particles are still seen | Sand, chalk powder, sawdust, mustard oil |
| Mass and volume | Mass = quantity of matter (g, kg); volume = space occupied (L, mL) | Mass — weigh on a balance; volume — read the ‘net quantity’ or the level in a measuring jar | 7 kg gas cylinder refill; 500 mL milk pouch |
| Matter | Anything that occupies space and has mass | Does it take up room and weigh something? | Water, sand, pebbles, the cup — and even air |
Exercises
- .1 Observing Objects Around Us — In-text Questions Page 1016
- .1 Observing Objects Around Us — Activity 6.1: Let us identify Page 1026
- .2 How to Group Materials? — Activity 6.2: Let us group Page 1036
- .2 How to Group Materials? — Activity 6.3: Let us think Page 1046
- .2 How to Group Materials? — In-text Questions Page 1056
- .2 How to Group Materials? — Activity 6.4: Let us explore Page 1056
- .3.1 Observe and identify appearance of materials — In-text Questions Page 1066
- .3.1–6.3.2 Lustre and hardness — In-text Questions Page 1076
- .3.2 Which materials are hard? — Activity 6.5: Let us observe Page 107 & 1086
- .3.3 Explore materials through which one can see or cannot see — In-text Questions Page 1086
- .3.3 Explore materials through which one can see or cannot see — In-text Questions Page 1096
- .3.3 Explore materials through which one can see or cannot see — Activity 6.6: Let us classify Page 109 & 1106
- .3.4 What is soluble in water; what is not? — In-text Questions Page 1106
- .3.4 What is soluble in water; what is not? — Activity 6.7: Let us explore Page 110 & 1116
- .3.4 What is soluble in water; what is not? — In-text Questions Page 1116
- .3.4 What is soluble in water; what is not? — In-text Questions Page 1126
- .3.5 How heavy or light? — Activity 6.8: Let us measure Page 112 & 1136
- .3.6 Space and volume — In-text Questions Page 1146
- .4 What is Matter? — In-text Questions Page 1156
- .4 What is Matter? — In-text Questions and Think it over! Page 1166
- Chapter games — Let us play Page 118 & 119
- Chapter exercises — Let us enhance our learning Page 119 to 121
- Extended activities and projects — Learning further Page 121