Chemical Properties and Interactions

Structure and Properties of Matter

Natural and Synthetic Substances

Activity

Many of the substances we use in our every day lives are

synthetic. Every synthetic product is made from one or
more natural substances found on Earth. Even products
made from other synthetics can be traced back to their
origins in nature. When you look closely at any natural
resource, such as oil or wood, you may be surprised at
how many diverse products rely on that resource for their
manufacture.

Procedure

1.  With your group, research one of the following natural

resources: oil, natural gas, wood, non-woody plants, or
metal ore.
2.  Look for answers to the following questions:
a.  What synthetic products are derived from the
natural resource?
b.  What kind of chemical processes are used to
create these synthetic products?
c.  How do these synthetic products benefit society?
d.  How does the use of synthetic products impact the natural resource from which they are
derived?
e.  What structures are designed from this product?
f.  Why are these products used for those structures?
3.  Create a poster illustrating the natural resource you have chosen and the variety of synthetic
products made from that resource.
4.  It is important that you and the team members evaluate the sources used in your research.
Use the Student Reference Sheet: Assessing Credibility, Accuracy and Possible Bias to
evaluate your sources.
5.  Present your poster and findings to your class in a five-minute presentation. As part of your
presentation evaluate any competing data, hypotheses and/or conclusions that you found in
your research.