Properties of materials
Transparent or opaque, waterproof or absorbent, flexible or rigid, floats or sinks, and in Grades 5-6 magnets and conductors of electricity and heat.
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Teaching Guide: Matter, States and Mixtures
Matter is one of the first topics in science: primary pupils study the properties of materials, the three states and changes of state, and secondary pupils the particle model, heating curves, pure substances and mixtures, and how to separate them. This free generator makes printable worksheets for every step, with the answer key.
- For
- Elementary 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th · Middle & High 7th, 8th, 9th (ages 8-14)
- Subject
- Natural Sciences › Physics & Chemistry
- Includes
- Student sheet and answer key
- Format
- A4, to print or save as PDF; new exercises every time
- Price
- Free, no sign-up
- Available in
- Catalan, Spanish, English
Student worksheet 
Answer key States and particles
Sort substances into solids, liquids and gases, recognise the particle model of each state and draw it.
Changes of state
Melting, freezing, evaporation and condensation in everyday situations, and in secondary school sublimation and whether heat is taken in or given out.
Heating curves
Read the melting and boiling points from the flat parts, identify the substance and draw the curve from a table.
Pure substances and mixtures
Pure substances, homogeneous and heterogeneous mixtures, with clear examples and none of the doubtful cases.
Separating mixtures
Sieving, magnets, filtration, decanting, evaporation and distillation, with the meaning of each method on the sheet.
Frequently asked questions about the matter worksheets
Which grades are these worksheets for?
Properties of materials, the states and the basic changes of state are for Grades 3-4; the particle model, heat and mixtures for Grades 5-6; heating curves, sublimation, homogeneous and heterogeneous mixtures and distillation for secondary school.
Why does a heating curve have flat parts?
While a pure substance changes state, the heat it takes in is used to change state and its temperature does not rise. The lower flat part is the melting point and the upper one the boiling point: they belong to each substance and identify it.
What is the difference between evaporation and boiling?
Both turn a liquid into a gas. Evaporation happens at any temperature and only at the surface of the liquid (clothes drying); boiling happens all through the liquid at a fixed temperature, the boiling point (water boiling at 100 °C).
What is the change from gas to solid called?
Deposition. It is what happens when frost forms on a freezing night: water vapour in the air turns straight into ice.
Why are milk and sand left out?
Because textbooks disagree about them: milk looks homogeneous but is heterogeneous under a microscope, and sand is a solid that flows. The worksheets only use examples with one answer.
Which other worksheets go well with these?
Physics problems for density, the periodic table for elements and scientific enquiry to plan experiments. You will find every resource in science worksheets.
How do I print only the answer key?
Click Print and choose “Answer key”, or “Worksheet and answer key” for both. You can also save it as a PDF from your browser’s print dialog.
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