LESSON

2 Useful and Harmful

Materials

Sci-core

USEFUL MATERIALS
1. Metals
Metal is a strong, hard and shiny material that can be formed into
different shapes and an excellent conductor of heat and electricity. It is
commonly used to make coins, kitchenware, containers, dinnerware,
car parts and wires.
2. Plastic (Polymer)
Plastic is material made from various chemicals. When heated, it
can be molded into different shapes. It is also known for its properties of
strength and impermeability and these qualities make plastic very useful
for making various items such as water containers, kitchenware, toys,
pipes, shopping bags and even chairs and tables.
3. Wood
Wood is a material that is produced from the roots and trunks of
trees. It is hard, flexible and long-lasting and these qualities make wood
an all-around material. It is commonly used to make furniture, construc-
tion materials as well as musical instruments.
 4. Glass
Glass is made by melting different minerals at a very high tempera-
ture. These minerals are silica in the form of sand, soda ash and lime-
stone. Other materials are also added to produce different properties.
Glass has many uses. We use it for drinking, storing food and as windows
for our home, cars and buildings.
5. Ceramic (clay)
Ceramic materials are brittle, hard and sometimes lustrous. They are
classified as glassy materials. Generally, ceramic is made from a mixture
of clay and water. Toilets, bricks, pots, cups , bowls and plates are made
of ceramic. You can also find ceramic in watches. They are good ther-
mal and electrical insulators and because of this property, ceramic ma-
terials are used by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
(NASA) to protects its space shuttle’s exterior from overheating when it
enters Earth’s atmosphere.

6. Composite
A composite material is a combination of two or more materials
bonded together. The components of composites are usually fibers that
are embedded in plastics. Their combined matrix and reinforcement
give these materials their superior characteristics– strong, stiff and light-
weight. Fiberglass and carbon fibers are modern composites. In fiber-
glass, the matrix is a plastic and the reinforcement is glass. Today, fiber-
glass is used in making cars, sports equipment and aircraft. Fiberglass is
used in pipe insulation and appliances.
 7. Textile
It is made from either natural or man-made fibers that have been
woven together and are used to make a variety of items such as
clothes, bags, carpets and rugs, curtains, coverings for beds, tables
and other pieces of furniture, flags, towels and even for sails and kites.
Some textiles like silk and cotton are produced from natural sources;
silk is taken from the cocoons that silkworms spin, while cotton is taken
from the cotton plant. However, most textiles are from a combination
of man-made materials such as nylon and polyester.

HARMFUL MATERIALS
1. Flammable Materials
Flammable materials can easily burn in open air when they are
exposed to an ignition source. Possible ignition sources include hot
electrical wires, hot surfaces, open flames, embers and sparks. Flash
point is the minimum temperature required for a material to burn. Ma-
terials that have low flash burn easily, making them more dangerous.

Examples:
Flammable solids– sawdust, plastic, flour dust and coal
Flammable liquids– thinner, acetone, alcohol, gasoline, kerosene,
oil and paint.
Flammable gases– Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and aerosols
such as perfume and spray.
2. Explosive Materials

Explosive materials are reactive substances

that are unstable and might violently decompose
or explode when heated, shaken or mixed together
with other substances. An explosion can generate heat that can burn
you or drive small fragments of glass or other objects into your body,
causing injuries such as bruises, wounds or broken bones.
Household materials that are kept in pressurized containers can ex-
plode when exposed to heat. These include aerosols such as perfume,
hair spray and spray paint. The LPG tanks, lighters and batteries may al-
so contain explosive substances.

3. Corrosive Materials
Corrosive materials are highly reactive substances
that can cause a serious burn or damage to the skin and
underlying body tissues upon contact. Some materials
produce corrosive mists that can damage the eyes and
the respiratory tract when inhaled. These substances can also damage
the digestive tract when accidentally ingested. Some corrosive materi-
als are also flammable and explosive when mixed with other substanc-
es.
Muriatic acid, used for cleaning bathroom and kitchen tiles, is an
example of a corrosive material. Many household scrubbing detergents
and cleansing solutions may also contain corrosive substances.
2. Toxic Materials
Toxic or poisonous materials can cause serious
harm or illness to an individual when ingested, inhaled
or absorbed by the skin. Poisoning can happen shortly
after being exposed to the toxin. It may also be evi-
dent only after prolonged or repeated exposure to toxic materials. Some
useful substances, such as medicinal drugs and vitamins, can also be
harmful when taken in wrong doses or in too little or excessive amounts.
Other examples of toxic items include household materials such as
cleaning agents, pesticides and paint. Consuming expired food can
cause an upset stomach which could lead to a serious case of food poi-
soning. A toxic material may also be flammable and corrosive.

HANDLING ENVIRONMENTALLY HAZARDOUS MATERIALS

Hazardous waste that is not properly managed poses a serious threat to
human health and the environment. Here are some steps that you can
follow when you need to handle environmentally hazardous materials.
• Store flammable materials in cool place. Keep them away from igni-
tion sources to avoid causing fire. Keep also potentially active explo-
sive substances from ignition sources such as electrical outlets, appli-
ances and gadgets and heat sources and surfaces such as stoves
and lamps.
•Do not leave the gas stove and gas tank unattended. Turn off the
tank after using it. If you detect the smell of gas in you home or if you
suspect a gas leak, tell your parents or other adults in the house so
they can assess and address the situation. You can help by fully
opening all the windows and doors to air out your house. Moreover,
do not ignite any flame and do not turn on appliances and light
switches in your house.
• Avoid skin contact with corrosive substances. Read carefully the
labels of their containers. If the instructions call for the use of rubber
gloves, wear them.
• Some corrosive substances can give off harmful vapor that can
harm your eyes and respiratory and digestive tracts. Wear a face
mask when handling these materials. Open the windows and doors
to allow ventilation so that the fumes will not accumulate inside the
house.
• Never open batteries. They may contain highly corrosive chemi-
cals.
•When your skin comes in direct contact with a strong acid, wash it
plenty of cool water until the burning sensation is lessened. You can
apply baking soda on the affected area to neutralize the acid.
When your skin gets irritated after using household cleaners and
drainers, wash the affected area with plenty of water. You may also
apply vinegar to it to neutralize the effect of the substance.
•Always wash your hands with soap and water after handling chemi-
cals and other toxic materials.
• Never take any medicine or drug without any prescription.
• Never take consume expired food or buy unsealed products.
These products might be contaminated with harmful microorganisms
or toxins. Always read the expiration date on the labels.
•Do not dispose empty or used batteries, paint cans, busted lamps
and electronic gadgets in the environment. These materials might
contain heavy metals that can pollute the surroundings. Dispose
them properly by storing and sealing them inside special contain-
ers.
•Do not burn garbage, especially plastics and other oil-based
products. Burning these materials produces pollutants that are toxic
to your health and the environment.