Irreversible Changes

CONCEPTUAL

Science›Matter & Materials|Ages 9—11|ID: mt_rbPioPELM1

Explain that some changes result in the formation of new materials and are not usually reversible, such as burning, rusting, and reactions with acid

Mastery Evidence

Define an irreversible change as one that creates new materials that cannot be changed back
Give at least three examples: burning, rusting, mixing bicarbonate of soda with vinegar
Describe observable signs of irreversible change: gas produced, colour change, heat given off, new substance formed

Assessment Prompt

“Can [child] explain why you can't un-burn a piece of toast or turn rust back into shiny iron, because a completely new material has been made?”

Curriculum Standards2 alignments

5-PS1-4Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) K-5codes only

Standard code — full text not included in this dataset.

Y5.Sci.PCM.6The national curriculum in England

Irreversible changes and new materials

explain that some changes result in the formation of new materials, and that this kind of change is not usually reversible, including changes associated with burning and the action of acid on bicarbonate of soda

Science · Key Stage 2

Prerequisites1

Reversible Changes
hardAges 9—10

Show full prerequisite tree

Reversible Changes hard
Must understand reversible changes before contrasting with irreversible ones
- Changes & Separation Vocabulary soft
  Describing dissolving and changes of state as reversible requires the vocabulary from the process terms node
- Dissolving & Solutions hard
  Must understand dissolving before demonstrating it is reversible
  - Changes & Separation Vocabulary hard
    Understanding dissolving and solutions requires 'dissolve', 'solution', 'soluble', 'insoluble' from the process vocabulary node
  - Advanced Material Properties hard
    Must understand solubility as a property before learning dissolving and recovery in detail
    - Testing Materials for Uses soft
      Within GB sequence, testing advanced properties supports justifying material choices; US teaches material uses earlier without this prerequisite
      - Material Properties Vocabulary soft
        Giving evidence-based reasons for material uses draws on conductor, insulator, and other property vocabulary
    - Material Properties Vocabulary hard
      Grouping materials by hardness, solubility, transparency, conductivity, and magnetic response requires all these property terms
    - Choosing the Right Material hard
      Must understand material suitability before testing advanced properties like conductivity and solubility
      - Material Properties Vocabulary soft
        Comparing suitability of materials for uses requires property vocabulary to articulate why one material is better than another
      - Grouping Materials hard
        Must group materials by properties before evaluating suitability for purposes
        
        Describing Material Properties hard
        Must describe properties before using them to group materials
        
        States of Matter Vocabulary soft
        Describing physical properties of materials uses solid/liquid/gas vocabulary introduced in the states of matter LANGUAGE node
        
        Naming Everyday Materials hard
        Must name materials before describing their properties
        
        Objects vs Materials hard
        Must distinguish objects from materials before naming specific materials
    - Solids, Liquids & Gases soft
      Understanding states of matter supports testing properties like solubility
      - States of Matter Vocabulary hard
        Comparing and grouping materials as solids, liquids, or gases requires the naming vocabulary for the three states
      - Drawing Particle Diagrams hard
        Comparing and grouping solids, liquids, and gases by properties is greatly aided by the particle diagram representation
      - Heating & Cooling Changes hard
        Must classify states of matter before understanding changes between states
        
        States of Matter Vocabulary hard
        Describing and measuring changes of state requires solid/liquid/gas vocabulary and the term 'change of state'
        
        Drawing Particle Diagrams hard
        Observing and describing change of state requires reading particle diagrams showing how arrangement changes on heating or cooling
      - Grouping Materials hard
        Must group materials by properties before classifying into three states of matter
        
        Describing Material Properties hard
        Must describe properties before using them to group materials
        
        States of Matter Vocabulary soft
        Describing physical properties of materials uses solid/liquid/gas vocabulary introduced in the states of matter LANGUAGE node
        
        Naming Everyday Materials hard
        Must name materials before describing their properties
        
        Objects vs Materials hard
        Must distinguish objects from materials before naming specific materials
      - Changing Shapes of Solids soft
        Changing shapes of solids provides context for understanding solid properties
        
        Describing Material Properties hard
        Must know material properties before investigating how shapes change
        
        States of Matter Vocabulary soft
        Describing physical properties of materials uses solid/liquid/gas vocabulary introduced in the states of matter LANGUAGE node
        
        Naming Everyday Materials hard
        Must name materials before describing their properties
        
        Objects vs Materials hard
        Must distinguish objects from materials before naming specific materials
  - Evaporation & the Water Cycle soft
    Evaporation knowledge supports understanding recovery of dissolved substances
    - Changes & Separation Vocabulary hard
      Identifying the role of evaporation and condensation requires knowing these process terms precisely
    - The Water Cycle soft
      Water cycle connects to curriculum evaporation/condensation topic
      - Cloud Types hard
        Water cycle requires understanding cloud formation (condensation)
        
        Rain & Puddles hard
        Cloud types build on knowing rain comes from clouds
        
        Types of Weather soft
        Rain concept benefits from knowing rain as a weather type
      - Where water is found on Earth soft
        Water cycle benefits from knowing where water is found on Earth
        
        Shapes of land and water hard
        Must know land and water features before learning where water is found on Earth
        
        Seasonal changes soft
        Seasonal observation supports understanding land and water features
        
        Days, Weeks, Months & Years soft
        Observing and describing seasonal changes requires basic date and time vocabulary (months, seasons, year)
        
        Ordering Events in Time hard
        Understanding days/months/years builds on sequencing events chronologically
        
        Heating & Cooling Changes soft
        Understanding state changes supports knowing water as solid (ice) and liquid
        
        States of Matter Vocabulary hard
        Describing and measuring changes of state requires solid/liquid/gas vocabulary and the term 'change of state'
        
        Drawing Particle Diagrams hard
        Observing and describing change of state requires reading particle diagrams showing how arrangement changes on heating or cooling
      - Heating & Cooling Changes soft
        Water cycle benefits from curriculum states of matter (heating/cooling changes state)
        
        States of Matter Vocabulary hard
        Describing and measuring changes of state requires solid/liquid/gas vocabulary and the term 'change of state'
        
        Drawing Particle Diagrams hard
        Observing and describing change of state requires reading particle diagrams showing how arrangement changes on heating or cooling
      - Temperature & Thermometers soft
        Water cycle evaporation relates to temperature (heat drives evaporation)
      - Rain & Puddles hard
        Full water cycle builds on basic rain/puddle/evaporation concept
        
        Types of Weather soft
        Rain concept benefits from knowing rain as a weather type
    - Heating & Cooling Changes hard
      Must understand state changes before learning about evaporation/condensation in water cycle
      - States of Matter Vocabulary hard
        Describing and measuring changes of state requires solid/liquid/gas vocabulary and the term 'change of state'
      - Drawing Particle Diagrams hard
        Observing and describing change of state requires reading particle diagrams showing how arrangement changes on heating or cooling
- Heating & Cooling Changes hard
  Must understand state changes before categorising them as reversible
  - States of Matter Vocabulary hard
    Describing and measuring changes of state requires solid/liquid/gas vocabulary and the term 'change of state'
  - Drawing Particle Diagrams hard
    Observing and describing change of state requires reading particle diagrams showing how arrangement changes on heating or cooling

Unlocks2

Physical vs Chemical Changes
hardAges 11—13
Conservation of Mass
hardAges 10—11