Name: __________________________________
Teacher: ________________________________
Class: __________________________________
Date: ___________________________________
Why Do Properties Matter?
Each element has different properties. Outside of science class, people might
think about properties of elements when they make or wear jewelry. All elements have
properties like color, texture, and hardness. All samples of pure gold would have the
same color. They would all have the same hardness when they are in the solid state. All
pure nickel samples that you could use would have the same color and the same hardness
when they are in the solid state, too.
Malleability is another important property, especially when making jewelry.
Metals that are very malleable can bend without breaking. Gold and silver can bend into
different shapes without breaking, but some metals cannot. Hardness is another important
property for jewelry. People want jewelry that does not get scratched, that will not break,
and that will not bend out of shape. Jewelry makers have learned how to use these
properties when they make jewelry. By mixing elements, such as nickel and gold, they
can make a ring that is harder than a plain gold ring. Small amounts of nickel can make a
necklace still look like pure gold but it costs less money. Most jewelry is a made of a
combination of nickel and another element, usually copper, gold, or silver.
Some people cannot wear jewelry made of certain metals. Do you know anyone
who cannot wear jewelry made of nickel? Some people develop a skin rash that causes
itching, redness, and swelling. Why does nickel cause this rash? Unfortunately,
researchers have not found a reason, but they do know that it is more likely to occur when
the weather is humid. One reason gold is so often used for jewelry is that most people
will not develop a rash from gold. Although stainless steel contains nickel, it is safe to
wear stainless steel because the nickel binds tightly to the other elements in stainless
steel. In other words, the properties of the elements matter in the jewelry they make.
When Is Something an Element?
You have learned that all materials are matter, and all matter is made of particles.
Scientists call those particles atoms. Gold is made of gold atoms. Silver is made of silver
atoms. Sulfur is made of sulfur atoms. Different materials are different because they are
made of different types of atoms. Everything is made of atoms. When a material is made
of only one type of atom, scientists call it an element. A sample of pure gold is an
element because it is made of only gold atoms. Elements are also special because each
one has the same name as the atoms it is made of. Iron is made of only iron atoms. The
same is true for all the elements.
Name: __________________________________
Teacher: ________________________________
Class: __________________________________
Date: ___________________________________
Reading: Why do Properties Matter - Follow up
Part 1: Close Read
1. Number the paragraphs in the reading. How many paragraphs are there in the
reading?
2. We will take turns reading as a class. As we read it together, highlight the important
information in each paragraph.
3. In the reading, circle the following vocabulary terms, then define them in your
notebook. Make sure the definitions are correct for the context of this reading.
a.
Element
b.
Properties
c.
Texture
d.
Solid
e.
Malleable
f.
Bind
g.
Atom
Part 2: Text Dependent Questions - Answer the following questions about the reading in
complete sentences.
1. What are 4 examples of properties of elements?
2.
All samples of pure gold will have the same _______________ and
________________.
3.
Why is malleability an important property when making jewelry?
4.
Why is hardness an important property when making jewelry?
5.
Which elements are most pieces of jewelry made of?
6.
All matter is made of ___________________.
7.
What makes materials different from each other?
8.
Why is pure gold an element?