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This page shows questions in the Examining Matter public release module at MSDE. 5th Grade MISA
"Examining Matter"

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Expand All Official Practice Test

This is test content.

A science class investigated the properties of matter and observed that some forms of matter, gases, such as air, are not easily observed. Other forms of matter, such as liquids and solids, are easily observed and can be sorted using physical properties. In order to investigate the physical properties of matter, the students gathered some liquids and powdery solids in beakers as well as other solid objects from the teacher’s lab supplies. The students went over safety instructions with the teacher and put on protective goggles and lab coats. The collection of solid and liquid matter is shown.

Figure. The figure shows a collection of solid and liquid matter. A group labeled “Liquids and Powdery Solids” shows substances in four beakers, with the numbers 50 to 250, in increments of 50, shown on the side of each beaker. Each beaker is filled to the 100 line and the substances are labeled “Baking Soda,” “Vinegar,” “Sand,” and “Water.” Another group labeled “Other Solid Objects” shows four objects that are labeled from left to right as “Iron Ring,” “Copper Wire,” “Rubber Tubing,” and “Chalk.” End figure description.

This is test content.

After reviewing the safety instructions with the teacher, the students put on protective goggles and lab coats and proceeded with the investigations. In the first investigation, the students combined vinegar and baking soda and recorded the results in their lab journals. Then they changed the investigation by combining vinegar and sand. The students’ procedures are shown.

Combining vinegar and baking soda.

  1. Place a plastic pipette filled with vinegar inside a plastic bag containing baking soda.
  1. Seal the plastic bag.
  1. Measure the mass of the bag using a balance.
  1. Place the bag on a lab table.
  1. Squeeze the pipette to combine the vinegar with the baking soda.
  1. Measure the mass of the sealed bag and contents using a balance.
  1. Record observations in lab journal.


A diagram of the result of combining vinegar with baking soda is shown.

Vinegar and baking soda diagram. The figure shows a diagram of vinegar being combined with baking soda. An illustration shows a pipette of vinegar and some loose baking soda in a plastic bag with a caption that reads “Vinegar plus Baking Soda Before Combining.” An arrow points to another illustration that shows the same pipette and baking soda sealed in the plastic bag, but now the bag is inflated, and there are bubbles inside. A caption reads “Vinegar plus Baking Soda After Combining.” End figure description.

The students used the same procedure and repeated the investigation, replacing the baking soda with sand.

A diagram of the results of combining vinegar with sand is shown.

Vinegar and sand diagram. The figure shows a diagram of vinegar being combined with sand. An illustration shows a pipette of vinegar and some loose sand, which is lightly shaded, in a plastic bag with a caption that reads “Vinegar plus Sand Before Combining.” An arrow points to another illustration that shows the same pipette and sand sealed in the plastic bag, but now the sand is more darkly shaded. A caption reads “Vinegar plus Sand After Combining.” End figure description.

This is a multiple choice question that allows you to select several options.

Before mixing the vinegar and baking soda, the students identified the qualitative properties of the two substances in their lab journals.

Select three qualitative properties of the two substances.

  1. A.
    vinegar is a liquid
  2. B.
    the color of baking soda
  3. C.
    baking soda is a solid
  4. D.
    the volume of vinegar used
  5. E.
    mass of the baking soda used

This is a question with 2 parts, including a multiple choice question that allows you to select only one option, and, a multiple choice question that allows you to select several options.

Part A

The students placed the same amount of liquid in each beaker in the examining matter investigation. The unit of measurement for the liquid in each beaker was 100

  1. A.
    liters.
  2. B.
    milliliters.
  3. C.
    grams.
  4. D.
    milligrams.

Part B

Then the students observed that the same amount of liquid was placed in the beakers; however, some beakers felt heavier, which was evidence that the beakers could be sorted in a different way.

Which physical properties of the liquids in the beakers would the students most likely use to sort the liquids?

Select two.

  1. A.
    color
  2. B.
    mass
  3. C.
    hardness
  4. D.
    volume
  5. E.
    temperature

This is a drag and drop question that allows you to select text and place it in an appropriate answer space.

The students investigated different ways to identify the solid materials based on observable and measurable properties.

Place the appropriate property under each method that can be used to observe or measure that property.

Solubility Mass Hardness Reflectivity Electrical conductivity

Shine a Light on the Material Scratch the Surface of the Material Place the Material on a Balance

This is a multiple choice question that allows you to select several options.

The students concluded from the results of the investigations that when materials are combined, sometimes a new substance is formed.

Identify the evidence from the investigations that supports the conclusion that a new substance was formed.

Select two.

  1. A.
    The bag expanded.
  2. B.
    A liquid combined with a solid.
  3. C.
    The sand got wet when combined with vinegar.
  4. D.
    The mass changed after the substances were combined.
  5. E.
    Bubbles formed in the bag with the vinegar and baking soda.

This is a drag and drop question that allows you to select text and place it in an appropriate answer space.

After combining the materials, the students collected qualitative and quantitative data about the substances. The students used various lab tools to more closely observe if a change occurred to the substances and then recorded their observations in their lab journals.

Place each lab tool in the box that identifies the type of data that is collected.

balance magnifying glass graduated cylinder thermometer microscope
Qualitative Data Quantitative Data

This is a test question that allows you to enter extended text in your response.

Use data from the mixing materials investigation to identify evidence that a new substance had formed.