LESSON 1

Materials Science

Synthetic Technology
Key Concept
• How to the properties of
What do you think? Read the two statements below and decide a material determine
whether you agree or disagree with them. Place an A in the Before what it is used for?
column if you agree with the statement or a D if you disagree. After
you’ve read this lesson, reread the statements to see if you have
changed your mind.
Before Statement After
 atural materials can be formed by combining
N
synthetic materials.
Synthetic materials are the result of chemical
reactions.

Study Coach

What are the properties of materials? Record Questions As you

read this lesson, write
A material is the matter from which a substance is or can be down any questions you
made. Different materials have different properties. You can use have about synthetic
the properties of a material to find out how it can be used. materials. Discuss these
questions and their
Material Properties Every kind of material can be identified by
answers with another
its physical and chemical properties. Properties can also be used student or your teacher.
to describe materials. For example, a material might be strong and
flexible. It might be soft and absorbent. It might conduct heat or
electricity.
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The properties of a material can determine its behavior and its

uses. A material’s properties can also change. They might change
depending on how the material is treated or how it is stored.

What are the differences between

natural and synthetic materials?
Some kinds of materials, such as wood and rock, are natural Science Use v. Common Use
materials. A natural material is any physical matter that is material
obtained or made from plants, animals, or the ground. Natural Science Use matter from
materials come from the natural environment, and have been which a substance is made
changed very little. Common Use a piece of
fabric

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 Plastics are an example of a synthetic material. A synthetic
Academic Vocabulary material is a material that is obtained from a natural material
undergo which has undergone a chemical reaction in a laboratory or
(verb) to experience a factory. Both natural and synthetic materials are found in
change products you use every day.
Developing Synthetic Materials Materials scientists research
and develop new materials. A materials scientist looks for
connections between the structure of a material and its
properties. That information is used to develop ways to change
or improve materials.
Ideas for synthetic materials often come from natural
materials. For example, sea cucumbers are an organism that can
go from soft and squishy to rigid and tough. Materials scientists
are trying to develop a fabric that will copy this behavior by
going from flexible to inflexible. Any new synthetic material is a
technology—the practical use of scientific knowledge.
Sources of Synthetic Materials All matter must come from
somewhere. Scientists use existing materials to make new
synthetic materials. The materials they use must come from
natural resources. These materials are obtained from plants,
animals, or Earth.

How are synthetic materials formed?

You’ve read that synthetic materials come from natural
resources. The ideas for new synthetic materials come from
nature. But how are synthetic materials formed?
New Materials Throughout history, humans have changed
natural materials to improve their properties. When changed,
the natural materials often undergo chemical reactions. The
atoms of the natural material rearrange and form something
new, a synthetic material.

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Science Use v. Common Use
organic From Reactants to Products Synthetic materials are the result
Science Use describing a of chemical reactions. You might recall that in a chemical reaction,
chemical compound that the bonds between the atoms in the reactants are broken. The
contains carbon and atoms rearrange and make new bonds to form products.
usually contains at least
one carbon-hydrogen A polymer is a molecule made up of many small organic
bond molecules bonded together, forming a long chain. A monomer is
Common Use grown one of the small organic molecules that makes up the long chain
with natural fertilizers of a polymer. Polymer chains can be very long.
and pesticides; often used Characteristics of Synthetic Materials There are different
to refer to foods, such as
fruits, vegetables, and
types of synthetic materials. They are all made from natural
meats resources that were changed in chemical reactions. They are all
made with specific properties to carry out a specific function.

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 Examples of Synthetic Materials Examples of synthetic
materials include synthetic fibers, ceramics, polymers, artificial
foods and medicines, and composites. Each of these types of
materials has specific properties.
Synthetic fibers are flexible. They can be used to make Scientific Vocabulary
clothing and other objects. Some examples of synthetic fibers fiber
are rayon, polyester, and nylon. (noun) a thin, thread-like
piece of a material
Ceramics are strong but brittle. They are good insulators.
Some familiar examples of ceramics are cement, tiles, and bone
china.
Polymers are strong and flexible. They can be easily modified
to hold different shapes and color. Examples of polymers include
polyvinyl chloride, polypropylene, and acrylic. Many common
objects are made of synthetic polymers. You might be familiar
with some of them. Pipes made of polyvinyl chloride, or PVC,
are used in plumbing. Some home siding, rainwear, and garden
hoses are also made of polyvinyl chloride. The polymer
polytetrafluoroethylene (pah lee teh truh flor oh ETH uh leen) is
used for the nonstick coating on cookware. Many types of Scientific Vocabulary
synthetic ropes are made of polypropylene. hydrogenated
Some food and medicines are synthetic materials. These are (adjective) having
made for a specific function or to mimic, or copy, a natural hydrogen added; it is
done to oil to increase
material. Some synthetic foods and medicines include vitamin
how long it will last in
C, the dye red 40, and hydrogenated oils. foods
Composites are made up of two or more synthetic materials.
They are made to emphasize a specific property, like flexibility Scientific Vocabulary
or strength. Types of composites include concrete, plywood, and composite
fiberglass. (noun) something made
of several materials
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Reread the statements at the beginning of the lesson. Fill in Academic Vocabulary
the After column with an A if you agree with the statement or a emphasize
(verb) to give something
D if you disagree. Did you change your mind?
special importance

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