⚗️ Grade 9 Science · Chemistry

Samacheer Class 9 Science - Matter Around Us

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Complete Grade 9 Science questions and answers for Matter Around Us. Click any question to expand the answer.

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Matter Around Us — key concepts & quick answers

What are the three states of matter?
Matter exists mainly as solid (fixed shape and volume), liquid (fixed volume but no fixed shape) and gas (neither fixed shape nor fixed volume).
What is the difference between a mixture and a compound?
A mixture contains two or more substances combined physically in any ratio and can be separated by physical means; a compound is formed when elements combine chemically in a fixed ratio and can be separated only by chemical means.
What is the difference between an element and a compound?
An element is made of only one kind of atom (e.g. oxygen, gold); a compound is made of two or more elements chemically combined (e.g. water, H₂O).
What is the difference between a homogeneous and a heterogeneous mixture?
A homogeneous mixture has a uniform composition throughout (e.g. salt solution); a heterogeneous mixture has a non-uniform composition (e.g. sand mixed with iron filings).
What is sublimation?
Sublimation is the process in which a solid changes directly into vapour on heating, without passing through the liquid state — for example camphor and naphthalene.
📋 Sections in this chapter
I. Choose the Correct AnswerII. State Whether True or FalseIII. Match the FollowingIV. Fill in the BlanksV. Answer Very BrieflyVI. Answer BrieflyVII. Answer in DetailIntext ActivitiesActivity – 1Activity – 3Activity – 4Activity – 5
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1I. Choose the Correct Answer5 questions

Q.1Separation of denser particles from lighter particles by high-speed rotation is called
✓ Answer
  • (a) Filtration
  • (b) Sedimentation
  • (c) Decantation
  • (d) Centrifugation

Answer:
(d) Centrifugation


Q.2Which among the following is a mixture?
✓ Answer
  • (a) Common salt
  • (b) Juice
  • (c) Carbon dioxide
  • (d) Pure silver

Answer:
(b) Juice


Q.3When a drop of ink is mixed in water, we get a
✓ Answer
  • (a) Heterogeneous mixture
  • (b) Compound
  • (c) Homogeneous mixture
  • (d) Suspension

Answer:
(c) Homogeneous mixture


Q.4______ is essential for solvent extraction method.
✓ Answer
  • (a) Separating funnel
  • (b) Filter paper
  • (c) Centrifuge machine
  • (d) Sieve

Answer:
(a) Separating funnel


Q.5______ has same properties throughout the sample.
✓ Answer
  • (a) Pure substance
  • (b) Mixture
  • (c) Colloid
  • (d) Suspension

Answer:
(a) Pure substance



2II. State Whether True or False5 questions

If false, correct the statement.


Q.1Oil and water are immiscible.
✓ Answer

This statement is true. Oil and water are immiscible liquids, meaning they do not mix with each other to form a homogeneous solution. This occurs because oil is nonpolar while water is polar, and the difference in their chemical nature prevents them from dissolving in one another. When oil and water are mixed together, they form a heterogeneous mixture where the two liquids remain as separate phases with a distinct boundary between them. This immiscibility is due to the principle that like dissolves like, where polar solvents dissolve polar solutes and nonpolar solvents dissolve nonpolar solutes.

Q.2A compound cannot be broken into simpler substances chemically.
✓ Answer

This statement is false. A compound can be broken down into simpler substances through chemical methods. Compounds are pure substances formed when two or more elements combine chemically in a fixed ratio. The chemical bonds holding the elements together can be broken by applying chemical reactions, heat, or electricity. For example, water (a compound) can be decomposed into hydrogen and oxygen gases by passing electric current through it, a process called electrolysis. Similarly, copper sulfate can be decomposed by heating to produce copper oxide, sulfur dioxide, and oxygen. This ability to decompose into simpler substances is a defining characteristic that distinguishes compounds from elements.

Q.3Liquid-liquid colloids are called gel.
✓ Answer

This statement is false. The correct statement is that liquid-solid colloids are called gels. A gel is a colloidal system where a solid is dispersed as the dispersed phase in a liquid as the dispersion medium. Common examples of gels include gelatin, jelly, and agar. Liquid-liquid colloids, where a liquid is dispersed in another liquid, are called emulsions. Examples of emulsions include milk, mayonnaise, and cream. Understanding the correct classification of colloids is important because different types of colloids have different properties and applications based on the nature of their dispersed phase and dispersion medium.

Q.4Buttermilk is a heterogeneous mixture.
✓ Answer

This statement is true. Buttermilk is a heterogeneous mixture because it contains suspended particles of fat and milk solids dispersed throughout the liquid phase. These particles are visible under a microscope and do not dissolve uniformly in the liquid, meaning the composition and properties vary from one part of the mixture to another. The particles can be separated from the liquid by physical methods such as centrifugation or filtration. This heterogeneous nature is why buttermilk appears slightly opaque and why it exhibits the Tyndall effect when light passes through it, making the path of light visible due to scattering by the suspended particles.

Q.5Aspirin contains carbon, hydrogen and oxygen in fixed proportion. Aspirin is a mixture.
✓ Answer

This statement is false. Aspirin is a compound, not a mixture. Although aspirin does contain carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen in fixed proportions, the presence of elements in fixed proportions is a characteristic of compounds. In aspirin, these elements are chemically bonded together in a specific arrangement to form the aspirin molecule (acetylsalicylic acid). The key distinction is that in a compound, the constituent elements are chemically combined through covalent bonds in a definite ratio that cannot be altered without breaking the chemical bonds. In contrast, a mixture is a physical combination of two or more substances where the components retain their individual properties and can be present in variable proportions. The fixed ratio of elements in aspirin, combined with the fact that it has distinct chemical properties different from its individual elements, confirms that aspirin is a pure compound rather than a mixture.


3III. Match the Following0 questions
AB
ElementPure substance
CompoundMade up of molecules
ColloidIntermediate mixture
SuspensionSettles down on standing
MixtureImpure substance
Correction made:
Original matching “Compound – made up of atoms” was scientifically inaccurate. Compounds are made up of molecules or ions.


4IV. Fill in the Blanks5 questions

Q.1A ______ mixture has no visible boundary between components.
✓ Answer

Answer: homogeneous


Q.2A substance that sublimes is ______.
✓ Answer

Answer: camphor or dry ice


Q.3Alcohol can be separated from water by ______.
✓ Answer

Answer: fractional distillation


Q.4In petroleum refining, the method of separation used is ______.
✓ Answer

Answer: fractional distillation


Q.5Chromatography is based on the principle of ______.
✓ Answer

Answer: solubility and adsorption



5V. Answer Very Briefly5 questions

Q.1Differentiate Absorption and Adsorption
✓ Answer
AbsorptionAdsorption
Substance enters bulk of another substanceSubstance accumulates only on surface
Entire material involvedSurface phenomenon
Example: sponge absorbing waterExample: charcoal adsorbing gases

Q.2Define Sublimation
✓ Answer

Answer:

Direct conversion of solid into vapour without becoming liquid is called sublimation.

Examples:

  • Camphor
  • Naphthalene
  • Dry ice

Q.3Why does Dettol-water mixture become turbid?
✓ Answer

The Dettol-water mixture becomes turbid because Dettol forms an emulsion in water. Dettol is an oily liquid that does not dissolve in water due to the difference in their polarities. When Dettol is mixed with water, the oil particles disperse throughout the water as a colloidal system, creating an emulsion where oil droplets are suspended in the water phase. These suspended oil particles scatter light in all directions through a phenomenon called the Tyndall effect. This scattering of light by the colloidal particles makes the mixture appear cloudy or turbid rather than clear and transparent. The turbidity increases with the concentration of Dettol because more oil particles are present to scatter the light.

Q.4Apparatus Used for Separating
✓ Answer

(i) Miscible liquids

  • Distillation apparatus
  • Fractionating column

(ii) Immiscible liquids

  • Separating funnel

Q.5Components of Mixtures
✓ Answer
MixtureComponents
Ice creamMilk, cream, sugar
LemonadeLemon juice, sugar, water
AirNitrogen, oxygen, gases
SoilSand, clay, minerals


6VI. Answer Briefly5 questions

Q.1Identify Pure Substances
✓ Answer

Given:

  • Ice
  • Milk
  • Iron
  • Hydrochloric acid
  • Mercury
  • Brick
  • Water

Pure Substances:

  • Ice
  • Iron
  • Mercury
  • Water
Correction made:
Hydrochloric acid solution and brick are not pure substances.

Q.2Is Oxygen an Element or Compound?
✓ Answer

Oxygen is an element. An element is a pure substance composed of only one type of atom, characterized by a specific atomic number. Oxygen atoms all have eight protons in their nucleus, which defines oxygen as a distinct element. Although oxygen can exist in different forms such as diatomic oxygen (O₂), which is the common form in the atmosphere, or ozone (O₃), which is a different allotrope, all these forms contain only oxygen atoms and no other elements. This is why oxygen is classified as an element rather than a compound, which would require a combination of two or more different elements chemically bonded together.

Q.3Is 22-Carat Gold Pure?
✓ Answer

22-carat gold is not pure gold; it is an alloy and therefore an impure substance or mixture. Pure gold is defined as 24-carat gold, which contains 99.9% or higher gold content. In contrast, 22-carat gold contains approximately 91.67% gold by mass, with the remaining 8.33% consisting of other metals such as copper, silver, or other alloys added to increase durability and hardness. These added metals are mixed with gold in a fixed proportion to create an alloy with improved mechanical properties suitable for jewelry making. Since 22-carat gold contains more than one element and is a physical mixture of gold with other metals, it is classified as an impure substance rather than a pure substance.

Q.4Separation of Sawdust, Naphthalene and Iron Filings
✓ Answer

To separate a mixture of sawdust, naphthalene, and iron filings, a multi-step separation process is required because each component has different physical properties. In step one, a magnet is used to remove iron filings from the mixture since iron is ferromagnetic and will be attracted to the magnet while sawdust and naphthalene remain unaffected. In step two, the remaining mixture of sawdust and naphthalene is heated gently. Naphthalene is a volatile solid that sublimes when heated, converting directly from solid to gas without passing through the liquid state, and can be collected by condensation. In step three, sawdust remains behind as a solid residue after naphthalene has sublimed away. This sequential use of magnetic separation, sublimation, and heating effectively separates all three components based on their distinct physical properties.

Q.5How are homogenous solutions different from heterogeneous solution? Explain with examples.
✓ Answer
Homogeneous MixtureHeterogeneous Mixture
Uniform compositionNon-uniform composition
Single phaseMultiple phases
Components not visibleComponents visible
Example: salt solutionExample: sand in water


7VII. Answer in Detail3 questions

Q.1Difference Between Elements and Compounds
✓ Answer
ElementsCompounds
Made of only one kind of atom; some elements exist as molecules, such as O₂Made of two or more different elements chemically combined in a fixed ratio
Cannot be broken down into simpler substances by chemical methodsCan be broken down into simpler substances by chemical methods
Smallest particle may be an atom or moleculeSmallest particle may be a molecule or formula unit
Example: Copper (Cu), Oxygen (O₂)Example: Water (H₂O), Carbon dioxide (CO₂)

Q.2Explain Brownian Movement and Tyndall Effect
✓ Answer

Brownian movement is the random, continuous, zig-zag motion exhibited by colloidal particles suspended in a fluid medium. This movement is caused by the unequal and random collisions of the medium's molecules with the colloidal particles from all directions. Since these molecular collisions are not perfectly balanced, the particles experience a net force that changes direction constantly, resulting in the characteristic random walk pattern. Tyndall effect is the phenomenon of scattering of light by colloidal particles suspended in a medium. When a beam of light passes through a colloidal solution, the path of the light becomes visible as a bright cone or track because the colloidal particles scatter the light in all directions. This effect can be observed when sunlight enters a dusty room, where the dust particles scatter the light and make the light beam visible. Both Brownian movement and Tyndall effect are important characteristics that help identify and distinguish colloidal solutions from true solutions and suspensions.

Q.3Separation of Salt, Oil and Water
✓ Answer

Step 1:

Take mixture in separating funnel.

Step 2:

Allow layers to settle.

  • Oil forms top layer
  • Salt solution forms bottom layer

Step 3:

Open tap to collect salt solution.

Step 4:

Evaporate water to obtain salt.



8Intext Activities0 questions


9Activity – 10 questions

Air and Brass

Air:

Mixture of gases.

Brass:

Alloy of copper and zinc.

Hence brass is a mixture.



10Activity – 30 questions

Iron and Sulphur


Without Heating

Iron and sulphur remain mixture.


On Heating

Chemical reaction occurs:

$$Fe + S \rightarrow FeS$$

Iron sulphide formed.

Correction made:
Original text incorrectly mentioned “iron sulphate”.


11Activity – 40 questions

Mixture or Compound

SubstanceType
Sand + waterMixture
Sand + iron filingsMixture
ConcreteMixture
Water + oilMixture
SaladMixture
WaterCompound
Carbon dioxideCompound
CementMixture
AlcoholCompound


12Activity – 53 questions

Sugar, Starch and Wheat Flour in Water

Observation:

  • Sugar dissolves completely.
  • Wheat flour settles after some time.

Conclusion:

Some substances form solutions while others form suspensions.


# Test Yourself


Q.1Why is Milk White?
✓ Answer

Milk appears white because it is a colloidal dispersion containing suspended fat particles and protein molecules. These suspended particles scatter all colors of visible light equally in all directions through the Tyndall effect. Since all wavelengths of visible light are scattered uniformly without any preferential scattering of particular colors, the scattered light appears white to our eyes. The white appearance is due to the combined effect of all colors being scattered together. If milk were a true solution without suspended particles, it would be transparent. The opacity and white color of milk are direct consequences of its colloidal nature and the light-scattering properties of its dispersed phase.

Q.2Why is Ocean Blue?
✓ Answer

Water absorbs longer wavelengths of light such as red and orange more strongly than shorter wavelengths. The shorter wavelengths, particularly blue light, are scattered more effectively by water molecules. When sunlight enters the ocean, the longer wavelengths are absorbed within the upper layers and converted to heat, while the blue wavelengths are scattered back towards our eyes. This scattered blue light is what we perceive when looking at the ocean, making it appear blue. The depth of water also plays a role, as deeper oceans appear darker blue because more light is absorbed before reaching greater depths.

Q.3Why Does Sun Appear Yellow?
✓ Answer

The Sun appears yellow due to the scattering of light by Earth's atmosphere. When sunlight passes through the atmosphere, shorter wavelengths such as blue and violet light are scattered more effectively by atmospheric molecules and particles through a process called Rayleigh scattering. This scattering removes a significant portion of the blue and violet wavelengths from the direct beam of sunlight reaching our eyes. The remaining light that reaches us is enriched in longer wavelengths, particularly yellow, orange, and red. The combination of the scattered shorter wavelengths and the transmitted longer wavelengths results in the Sun appearing yellowish-white to our eyes. This effect is more pronounced when the Sun is near the horizon, where the light must travel through a greater thickness of atmosphere, causing even more blue light to be scattered away and making the Sun appear more orange or red.


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