How to use this book
Welcome to Oxford Successful Natural Sciences Grade 8. This series is based on the National Curriculum Statement: Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement issued by the Department of Basic Education. This book is divided into strands so that you can easily see what topics will be done in your Natural Sciences class. On the first page of every strand, you will find a mind map that shows you what topics will be covered during the strand. At the end of each strand, you will find the following: • a strand summary that will help you to quickly revise the work covered in the strand. • an exemplar test consisting of revision questions.
You will see the following throughout the book:
Let us check: This revises what skills and knowledge you should already have.
New words: These are key words to learn and remember in this subject.
CASE STUDY
Materials science
There are now about 300 000 different materials. Most materials fit into four different groups: metals, ceramics, semiconductors and polymers. Materials science is all about using the right material for the job. Because materials science is such a big field, materials scientists
often go by other names such as a metallurgist, or a polymer engineer or ceramic engineer. A materials scientist looks at the properties of a material and its performance – how well it does the job it is meant to do. Materials scientists also invent new materials.
Case studies: These are features about people’s experiences and will help with the application of your knowledge.
Metals are formed into sheets, rods, tubes and wires.
Ceramics can be used to make tooth and bone replacements.
Photographs: These are labelled clearly to make it easier for you to understand the text.
Silicon is a famous semiconductor. Without it, there would be no computers and no electronic equipment.
Polymers are long chains of molecules made from repeats of smaller molecules strung together. Plastics and paints are polymers.
1 Explain what organic chemistry is. 2 Name the qualities you think you need to have to be a materials scientist.
3 Name South Africa’s petrochemical company. Might they be interested in developing biofuels? Why or why not?
Unit 1 Reactants and products 95
6 How to use this book
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