What is a ceramic?

Ceramics are a group of non-metal solids with high melting points that aren't made from carbon-based compounds.

Answer in your head, out loud, or on paper, then tap the card to flip.

Give 2 examples of ceramics.

  1. Clay ceramics (e.g. pottery or bricks).
  2. Glass (e.g. soda-lime glass or borosilicate glass).

Answer in your head, out loud, or on paper, then tap the card to flip.

How are clay ceramics made?

  1. Dig clay from the ground.
  2. Mould the clay into the shape that you want. 
  3. Fire (heat) the clay at high temperatures in a furnace to harden it into a clay ceramic.

Answer in your head, out loud, or on paper, then tap the card to flip.

How is soda-lime glass made?

  1. Heat a mixture of limestone, sand, and sodium carbonate until it melts.
  2. When it cools it will form glass.

Answer in your head, out loud, or on paper, then tap the card to flip.

How is borosilicate glass different to soda-lime glass?

  1. It is made from a mixture of sand and boron trioxide.
  2. It has a higher melting point than soda-lime glass.

Answer in your head, out loud, or on paper, then tap the card to flip.

What is the main type of glass that we use?

The main type of glass we use is soda-lime glass.

Answer in your head, out loud, or on paper, then tap the card to flip.

What is a ‘composite’ material?

Composites are made of one material (reinforcer) embedded in another (matrix).


This makes the composite much stronger than either of the materials are alone.

Answer in your head, out loud, or on paper, then tap the card to flip.

What is concrete, and why is it considered a composite material?

Concrete is made from gravel and sand, bound together in a matrix of cement.

Answer in your head, out loud, or on paper, then tap the card to flip.

What is the difference between low density (LD) poly(ethene) and high density (HD) poly(ethene)?

These are two types of polymers made from ethene, made under different conditions:


Low density (LD) poly(ethene)

Conditions: Moderate temperatures, high pressure, catalyst 

Properties: More flexible and weaker

Uses: Carrier bags


High density (HD) poly(ethene)

Conditions: Low temperature/pressure, catalyst

Properties: More rigid and stronger

Uses: Drainpipes

Answer in your head, out loud, or on paper, then tap the card to flip.

What is the difference between thermosoftening and thermosetting polymers?

Thermosoftening polymers melt when they are heated, and can be remoulded.


Thermosetting polymers do not melt when they are heated, so cannot be remoulded.

Answer in your head, out loud, or on paper, then tap the card to flip.

How does the structure of thermosoftening polymers relate to their properties?

Thermosoftening polymers are made from lots of polymer chains, held together by weak intermolecular forces.


These forces break easily when heated, causing the polymer to melt.


It can then be remoulded into a different shape and will harden again when cooled.

Answer in your head, out loud, or on paper, then tap the card to flip.

How does the structure of thermosetting relate to their properties?

Thermosetting polymers are made from lots of polymer chains, held together by strong covalent bonds.


These require lots of energy to break, so don’t soften when heated.


These polymers are hard, strong, and rigid.

Answer in your head, out loud, or on paper, then tap the card to flip.