Water-Absorbing Materials Notes & Questions | Class 2 Chemistry | Drishti OS

Water-Absorbing Materials

NCERT anchor

Looking Around 2 — activities like wiping spills, using towels, and observing which classroom/home materials soak up water and which don't.

What you'll learn

Some materials soak up (absorb) water, like a cloth towel or sponge.
Some materials do not absorb water and stay dry, like plastic or metal.
We choose absorbing materials for towels, mops, and napkins.

Key concepts

Verbal: A material that absorbs water takes it in and becomes wet/heavy; a material that does not absorb stays dry.

Symbolic: Water + Sponge → Wet, heavier sponge (absorbed). Water + Plastic sheet → Water stays on top (not absorbed).

Level 1 — Materials that absorb water

Cloth, cotton, sponge, and paper soak up water.

Level 1 — Materials that do NOT absorb water

Plastic, metal, and glass do not soak up water; water stays on the surface.

Level 1 — Everyday uses

Use	Material chosen
Towel to dry hands	Cloth (absorbs)
Raincoat	Plastic (does not absorb, keeps you dry)
Kitchen mop	Cloth/sponge (absorbs)

Level 2 — Testing absorption

Drop water on cloth and on plastic — cloth becomes wet through, plastic keeps water as droplets on top.

Level 2 — India

Cotton gamcha (towel) used to dry off after a bath; plastic sheets used to cover things during monsoon rains.

Worked example

You spill water on the floor. Would a cloth or a plastic sheet clean it up better? Why?

Step 1 — Cloth is made of fibres that soak up water.
Step 2 — Plastic sheet does not soak up water; it just pushes water around.
Step 3 — Cloth is better for cleaning spills.
Answer: Cloth, because it absorbs water.

Common mistakes

Mistake	Why	Fix
All materials soak up water equally	Not testing/observing	Plastic and metal do not absorb water
Absorbing means dissolving	Confusing terms	Absorbing = soaking in; dissolving = mixing completely into a liquid
Raincoats absorb water to keep you dry	Backwards logic	Raincoats do NOT absorb, so water slides off instead of soaking through

Quick check

Name two materials that absorb water.
Name two materials that do NOT absorb water.
Why is plastic used for raincoats?

Stretch: Would a sponge or a steel plate absorb more water if you pour water on both?

Revision tip: Test a piece of cloth and a plastic bag with a few drops of water and compare.

Open the Practice tab for graded questions on Water-Absorbing Materials.

Water-Absorbing Materials