Polymer
Ceramic
Property
Real-world
Mastery
100
What is the long chain of repeating molecules called?
Polymer
100
What natural material is the main ingredient in traditional ceramics?
Clay
100
Are polymers generally heavy or lightweight?
lightweight
100
What common window material is actually a ceramic?
glass
100
What is the name of the process where polymer waste is melted and reformed into new products?
recycling
200
What is the single small repeating unit that makes up a polymer?
Monomer
200
What happens to a ceramic if you bend it too far? (Hint: it cracks)
Breaks (shatters)
200
Which family is more heat-resistant – polymers or ceramics?
ceramic
200
What ceramic household item holds your morning coffee or tea?
mug
200
What polymer is produced by silkworms and used to make luxurious fabric?
silk
300
Is wool a natural or synthetic polymer?
Natural polymer
300
Is glass classified as a ceramic or a metal?
Ceramic
300
What happens to most polymers when exposed to high heat? (Hint: they soften)
melt
300
What ceramic item is used in bathrooms to cover walls and floors?
tiles
300
potter's wheel
400
Starch is a natural polymer made of __________. Plants store energy as starch.
glucose monomer
400
A _____ is a specialized, thermally insulated oven or furnace used to achieve high temperatures for processes like hardening, drying, or chemical changes. It is most commonly associated with baking clay into ceramics or drying lumber, and can be powered by electricity, gas, or wood.
Kiln
400
Are ceramics generally good or poor insulators of electricity?
good
400
What polymer is commonly used for non-stick coatings on frying pans?
Teflon
400
What ancient material, made from clay and straw, was used to build houses in ancient Egypt?
mud or (adobe)
500
Which natural polymer stores genetic information in our bodies?
DNA
500
What is the high-temperature heating process that hardens clay called?
Firing
500
What property describes a material's ability to return to its original shape after bending?
elasticity
500
What synthetic polymer is used to make car tires?
rubber
500
What is the hardest natural ceramic material found on Earth?
diamond