Q1.
Are there any properties which can be shown by all materials? If yes, what are those?
Answer
Yes — two. Lustre, hardness, transparency and solubility are shown by some materials but not by others. Only two properties are shown by every material:
- Mass — every material has some mass. Units: gram (g) and kilogram (kg).
- Volume — every material occupies some space. Units: litre (L) and millilitre (mL).
Because these two are universal, they are used to give one general name to everything around us:
Anything that occupies space and has mass is called matter
Mass gives the quantity of matter → measured in g and kg
The space occupied by matter is its volume → measured in L and mL
Mass gives the quantity of matter → measured in g and kg
The space occupied by matter is its volume → measured in L and mL
Why not the other properties: a wooden log has no lustre, air is not hard, and sand is not soluble — so none of these can be used to define matter. But the log, the air and the sand all have mass and all take up space.
Did you know? There is a correct way to write these units. kg has no space between k and g, no full stop, and never an ‘s’ — write 7 kg, not 7 kgs. Litre is capital L, millilitre is mL (small m, capital L). Always leave one space between the number and the unit: 500 mL. The SI unit of volume is the cubic metre, written m3, and 1 m3 = 1000 L.