Characteristics, Examples and Importance of Non-Living Matter for JSS 1

Non-Living Matter

Performance Objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. identify non-living matter in the environment;
2. state the characteristics of non-living matter;
3. discuss the uses and importance of non-living matter;
4. classify non-living matter as metals and non-metals.

Meaning of Matter

Matter is anything that has mass and occupies space.

Everything in the environment is made up of matter. Matter can be grouped into two main categories: living matter and non-living matter. While living matter includes plants and animals, non-living matter consists of materials and objects that do not have life.

Meaning of Non-Living Matter

Non-living matter is any material or object that does not possess life and does not carry out life processes.

Non-living matter can be found everywhere in homes, schools, and the wider community. Examples include stones, water, plastic buckets, and wooden desks.

Observe the image below to see common examples of non-living matter found in a school environment.

Characteristics of Non-Living Matter

Non-living matter does not perform the life functions that living organisms perform. The main characteristics of non-living matter include:

1. Absence of Movement: Non-living things cannot move on their own. They only move when an external force is applied to them, such as wind blowing a leaf or a person pushing a table.
2. Absence of Respiration: Non-living things do not breathe or exchange gases to produce energy.
3. Absence of Nutrition: Non-living things do not require food, water, or nutrients to survive or maintain their structure.
4. Absence of Growth: Non-living things do not grow or increase in size through internal biological processes. Any increase in size is usually due to external additions, such as a pile of sand getting larger when more sand is poured on it.
5. Absence of Reproduction: Non-living things cannot produce offspring or make copies of themselves.
6. Absence of Excretion: Non-living things do not produce metabolic waste products, so they do not excrete.
7. Absence of Irritability or Sensitivity: Non-living things do not feel, sense, or respond to changes in their environment, such as heat, cold, or touch.

Examples of Non-Living Matter in the Environment

Non-living matter can be grouped into two main categories based on their origin: natural non-living matter and artificial (man-made) non-living matter.

Natural Non-Living Matter

These are non-living things that exist naturally in the environment without human intervention. Common examples include:

1. Water: Found in rivers, lakes, oceans, and rain.
2. Soil and Rocks: Found on the ground, hills, and mountains.
3. Air: The mixture of gases surrounding the Earth.
4. Minerals: Substances like gold, iron ore, and salt found deep in the earth.

Artificial Non-Living Matter

These are non-living things that are made by humans from various raw materials. Common examples include:

1. Plastic Objects: Such as buckets, chairs, rulers, and bottles.
2. Glass Objects: Such as windows, drinking glasses, and laboratory flasks.
3. Paper and Cardboard: Such as textbooks, notebooks, and boxes.
4. Processed Wood: Such as tables, doors, and pencils.

Classification of Non-Living Matter: Metals and Non-Metals

Non-living matter can be classified into two major groups based on their physical and chemical properties: metals and non-metals.

Metals

Metals are materials that are typically hard, shiny, and good conductors of heat and electricity.

Most metals are solids at room temperature (except mercury, which is a liquid). Examples of metals include iron, copper, aluminium, gold, and zinc.

The physical properties of metals include:

1. Lustre: Metals have a shiny surface when polished or freshly cut.
2. Conductivity: Metals allow heat and electricity to pass through them easily.
3. Malleability: Metals can be beaten or hammered into thin sheets without breaking.
4. Ductility: Metals can be drawn or stretched into thin wires.
5. Sonority: Metals produce a ringing sound when struck by a hard object.

Non-Metals

Non-metals are materials that are generally dull, brittle when solid, and poor conductors of heat and electricity.

Non-metals can exist as solids, liquids, or gases at room temperature. Examples of solid non-metals include wood, plastic, coal (carbon), sulfur, and glass. Examples of gaseous non-metals include oxygen, nitrogen, and hydrogen.

The physical properties of non-metals include:

1. Dullness: Non-metals do not have a shiny surface.
2. Poor Conductivity: Non-metals do not allow heat or electricity to pass through them easily (they act as insulators).
3. Brittleness: Solid non-metals break or crumble easily when hammered or dropped.
4. Non-Ductility: Non-metals cannot be stretched into wires.
5. Non-Sonority: Non-metals do not produce a ringing sound when struck.

The table below summarizes the key differences between metals and non-metals:

Observe the diagram below to compare the visual and physical differences between a metal object and a non-metal object.

How to Sort Non-Living Matter into Metals and Non-Metals

Sorting is the process of grouping objects based on shared characteristics. Non-living objects can be sorted into metals and non-metals by performing simple physical tests.

The required materials for this activity are:

1. An iron nail
2. A wooden ruler
3. A copper wire
4. A plastic spoon
5. An aluminium foil sheet
6. A piece of charcoal
7. A small stone
8. A metal key

The sorting procedure involves the following steps:

1. Place all the collected objects on a flat table.
2. Observe the surface of each object under bright light to see if it is shiny (lustrous) or dull.
3. Gently tap each object with a small wooden stick and listen to the sound produced. Note if it makes a ringing sound (sonorous) or a dull thud (non-sonorous).
4. Try to bend each object gently. Note if it bends without breaking (malleable/ductile) or if it is stiff or breaks easily (brittle).
5. Group the objects that are shiny, sonorous, and bendable into one pile labeled “Metals”.
6. Group the objects that are dull, non-sonorous, and brittle or stiff into another pile labeled “Non-Metals”.
7. Record the sorted groups in a notebook.

Observe the sorting setup shown below.

Importance and Uses of Non-Living Matter

Non-living matter is highly important for the survival of living things and for human development. Different types of non-living matter are used in various ways.

The main uses and importance of non-living matter include:

1. Supporting Life: Water is essential for drinking, digestion, and plant growth. Air contains oxygen, which is necessary for respiration in animals, and carbon dioxide, which plants use to make food.
2. Agriculture: Soil provides nutrients and support for crops to grow. Farming tools like hoes, cutlasses, and tractors are made from metals and wood.
3. Construction and Shelter: Rocks, sand, cement, and iron rods are used to build houses, schools, roads, and bridges. Wood is used to make roofs, doors, and furniture.
4. Domestic Uses: Cooking pots and kettles are made of metals (like aluminium and stainless steel) because they conduct heat quickly. Plastic buckets, cups, and plates are used to store water and food because they are light and do not rust.
5. Transportation: Vehicles, trains, aeroplanes, and ships are constructed primarily from strong metals like steel and aluminium.
6. Electrical Installations: Copper wires are used to carry electricity in buildings because copper is an excellent conductor of electricity. Plastic is used to cover the wires to prevent electric shocks because plastic is a non-metal and a poor conductor.