Materials

---

• 

  Materials

  A material is anything made of matter, which includes everything we can see, from the air to our own skin. But often when we use the word “materials” we mean materials that are...

  view
• 

  Food

  The food we eat gives us energy and allows us to grow and to repair our bodies and brains. All our food comes from plants and animals, together with a few non-plant or animal...

  view
• 

  Metals

  There are 86 known metals. Metals are elements (pure, naturally occurring substances) that are usually shiny and solid at room temperature. Often they can be easily moulded and are...

  view
• 

  Paper

  Paper is usually made from wood pulp. This mashed-up wood contains fibres (or strings) of cellulose. Cellulose is the substance that makes up the cell walls of most plants and is...

  view
• 

  Plastics

  A plastic is a substance that can be moulded, or given any required shape, during manufacturing. Plastics are synthetic compounds (molecules consisting of more than one element...

  view
• 

  Textiles

  A textile is a material made from interlaced fibres, or threads. These fibres may be natural, such as cotton or wool, or synthetic, artificially made, such as nylon or polyester...

  view
• 

  Wood

  Wood is a hard tissue found in the trunks, branches and roots of trees and shrubs. Wood is made up of fibres of cellulose, the substance that forms the cell walls of all plants...

  view
• 

  Petrochemicals

  Petrochemicals are chemicals that are processed from petroleum and natural gas, which are fossil fuels. Primary petrochemicals—such as ethylene and benzene—are made directly...

  view
• 

  Paints, varnishes and adhesives

  Paint is a coloured substance that, when spread over a surface, dries to leave a solid coating. Paint is used for artworks and for protecting and colouring surfaces, such as walls...

  view
• 

  Agrochemicals

  Agrochemicals are chemicals that are used in agriculture—either in the growing of crops or the raising of livestock. Pesticides protect plants from weeds, diseases and pests...

  view
• 

  Chemicals

  A chemical is any substance that has a constant chemical composition. For example, water (H2O) is a chemical because it always has the same ratio of hydrogen to oxygen: two...

  view
• 

  Recycling

  Recycling is the process of turning waste into new products and materials. Recycling is one of the “three Rs” of waste management: reduce, reuse and recycle. The aim of the...

  view