Basic Science | Class: JSS1 | Term: 1st

Classification and Uses of Rubber

len Alfred Ajibola - 22nd June, 2026 @ 04:20 PM

Topics in Basic Science

Classifications of Drugs, Sources of Drugs and Drug Abuse Teeth, Structure of the Tooth, Dentition and Dental Care Balanced Diet, Classes of Food and their Importance Classes of Food, their Composition and Functions Nutrition: Types and Class of Food Cleanliness of parts of the body Family Health and Personal Cleanliness Behaviors and Feelings during Adolescence Pubertal changes in Boys and Girls Classification and Uses of Rubber Characteristics, Classification and Uses of Plastics Cement: Composition, Types and Uses of Cement Types, Properties and Uses of Ceramics Properties and Uses of Nonmetals Safety Devices: Examples and Uses of Safety Devices Accident Prevention Techniques and Safety Rules Safety Precautions for Pedestrians, Cyclists and Motorists Technology: Benefits of Technology Alloys: Types, Composition and Uses of Alloys Ferrous and Non-Ferrous Metals

Academic Questions in Basic Science

Please click here to see all Questions and Answers

Which of the following diseases is associated with river blindness?

  • A. Anthrax

  • B. Lawnmower Disease

  • C. Onchocerciasis

  • D. Devil's Crunch

  • E. Trypanosomiasis

  • F. Tularemia

The vector for yellow fever is _____.

  • A. Aedes Mosquito

  • B. Female Anopheles Mosquito

  • C. Plasmodium

  • D. Flavivirus

  • E. Black Fly

  • F. Bacillus Anthracis

The bones of the head and face make up the skull. These bones are _____ in number.

  • A. 12

  • B. 14

  • C. 16

  • D. 18

  • E. 20

  • F. 22

Bacteria are not a constituent of our environment.

  • A. True

  • B. False

Below are types of drugs. Which of these is considered as pain killers?

  • A. Stimulants

  • B. Depressants

  • C. Opiods and Morphine Derivatives

  • D. Hallucinogens

  • E. Anabolic Steroids

  • F. Cannabinoids

Which of the following statement is false concerning drugs?

  • A. Drugs can be inhaled

  • B. Drugs can be injected directly into the bloodstream 

  • C. Drugs can be eaten

  • D. Drugs exist exclusively in the forms of tablets and syrups

  • E. Drugs can be placed under the tongue

  • F. Drugs can be taken with water or another liquid

Vaccination involves a process of introducing pathogens or germs into a person in order to prevent such person from the diseases they cause.

  • A. True

  • B. False

With regards to the human health, foreign bodies are best regarded as _____.

  • A. International bodies

  • B. Antilators

  • C. Antibodies

  • D. Antigens

  • E. Antibiotics

  • F. Antidotes


Rubber

Rubber is defined as an organic material that is very elastic, versatile, and known for its toughness and resilience. This implies that a rubber can be stretched easily, and will return to its original length when it is released after being stretched.

Please read on nonmetals and their uses here.

 

Characteristics of Rubber

Rubber shows the following characteristics:

  1. They are highly elastic, and thus can stretch significantly without any deformity, even as it returns to its original shape and size.

  2. They are poor conductors of electricity. For this reason, they can be used as gloves when working with electricity. They can also be used as insulators for shielding wires.

  3. They have high tensile strength, making them resistant to tears. This makes it a key reason they are widely used as car tyres.

  4. Its spring-like nature makes it ideal as a shock absorber. In this regard, they are often associated with children fun centres.

  5. They can act as an effective barrier to heat. For this reason, they may be used as handles of cooking utensils.

  6. They are quite impermeable to water and air. They therefore allow low gas permeability, making them ideal in the production of tube tyres and balloons.

  7. They are resistant to corrosion (rusting), chemical attacks from steam, dilute acids, and alkalis.

  8. They have lower density than water. This property makes it float on water.

Please read on plastics, their characteristics and uses here.

 

Classification of Rubber

There are two classes of rubber based on their origin. These: are natural rubber and synthetic rubber.

  • Natural Rubber

Natural rubber is derived from latex, a milky liquid obtained from the bark of rubber trees (Hevea brasiliensis). Natural rubber can be used directly, or stabilized, or converted into crepe rubber.

Rubber tapping is the process of harvesting latex (a milky-white emulsion) from rubber trees by slicing a shallow, downward-sloping groove into the bark. The image below shows the tapping of natural rubber.

Tapping of Natural Rubber - Len Academy

Natural rubber is characterized by high elasticity, and great tensile strength. They also possess low temperature, making them ideal in the manufacture of vehicle tires, adhesives, surgical gloves and footwears.

Please read on cement, types, characteristics and uses here.

 

  • Synthetic Rubber

These are rubbers artificially derived or polymerized from petroleum (or crude oil). The chemical process that produces artificial rubber is termed polymerization.

Examples of synthetic rubber include Nitrile Rubber (NBR), Neoprene (Polychloroprene), Styrene-Butadiene Rubber (SBR), Silicone Rubber, EPDM Rubber, Butyl Rubber and Polybutadiene.

Synthetic (artificial) rubber are used in the manufacture of inner tubes vehicle tires, shoe soles, roofing systems, football valves, medical stoppers, insulators for wires, liners of tubeless tyres and hoses for fuels.

Please read on the benefits of technology here.

 

Uses of Rubber

  • They are used in the manufacture of tyres and tubes. In fact, this is the highest use of rubber globally.

  • Medically, they are applied in the manufacture of surgical gloves, syringes, and blood pressure cuffs.

  • They are poor conductors of electricity, making them excellent insulators. In this regard, rubber gloves are worn on the hand to prevent electric shock.

  • They are used as conveyor belt drives which can act as a pulley, moving heavy materials and goods. Please read on belt and pulley drive here.

  • They can be used as adhesives, and as specialized bonding agents.

  • They are applied in the manufacture of shoe soles, factory boots and heel of shoes.

  • They are used in the production of common and daily use items like rubber bands, footballs, toys, balloons, eraser, etc.

Please the next topic (pubertal changes in boys and girls) here.

Please read basic science scheme of work for jss1 first term here.

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Amazing facts in Basic Science

According to scientific research, if the first tear drop comes from the right eye, it’s tears of joy. If it comes from the left eye, then it is as a result of pain

Dentistry is the oldest profession in the world. This is considered true because a research conducted by the University of Bologna, Italy on a 14,000-year-old skull found that one rotten tooth in the jaw had been deliberately scoured and scraped with a dental tool

Scientific research has it that the human nose can distinguish more than a trillion different odors

Tiger fur and skin - Len Academy

Tigers have striped fur. So also is their skin

Red-Billed Quelea - Len Academy

The most common wild bird in the world is native to Africa, and it's the red-billed quelea with a population estimated to be around 1.5 billion

Of all animals, mosquitoes hold the record of killing most humans annually. They are responsible for the deaths of 725,000 - 1,000,000 persons yearly

Antibiotics fights and kills bacteria. However, they do nothing to a virus

All insects have six legs. However, dragonfly has six legs but can't walk

The chin is defined as the protruding part of the face below the mouth, formed by the apex of the lower lip. It is shown below:

Chin - Len Academy

Interestingly, humans are the only animals with chin

Cranberries - Len Academy

Ripe cranberries will bounce like a ball. For this reason, they are nicknamed 'bounceberries'. They will also float in water

Notable points in Basic Science

We have six classes of food. These are:

  1. Carbohydrates

  2. Proteins

  3. Fats and Oils

  4. Vitamins

  5. Mineral Salts

  6. Water

In humans, roughages are not classified as one of the classes of food. This is so because they aren't digested. Instead, roughages facilitate the movement of bowels in the large intestine (colon); and for this reason, they can become useful in treating constipation.

Food refers to anything that is ingested by living organisms, giving them nutrients and thus enabling them to stay alive.

As an instance, 99% of a panda's diet is bamboo. In this case, bamboo is considered as food to a panda since it provides a source of nutrient and keeps it alive. This is shown in the image below:

Panda eating bamboo - Len Academy

Please read more on food here

The only process in nature that actively enriches our atmosphere with oxygen is photosynthesis. Every other process like respiration, burning and combustion takes away oxygen from it. In addition, they introduce carbon(IV)oxide (CO2) into the atmosphere.

Photosynthesis is also the only process that takes away carbon(IV)oxide (CO2) from the atmosphere.

Photosynthesis is defined as a process by which green plants manufacture food by utilizing carbon(IV)oxide and water in the presence of sunlight.

Oxygen is given off as a by-product of photosynthesis. In regards to this, it is recommended that each person plants a tree.

Matter is composed of particles which can be:

  1. Tightly packed together (as seen in solids).

  2. Loosely packed together (as seen in liquids).

  3. Completely separated (as seen in gases).

The movement of the particles of matter is a function of the overall kinetic energy present in them. You can think of kinetic energy as energy in motion.

An increase in the particles' vibrational, rotational or translational motion will imply an increase in temperature while a decrease in the particles motion (vibrational, rotational and translational) will mean a decrease in temperature. Based on this knowledge, we can therefore define temperature as the measure of the average kinetic energy possessed by the particles of matter.

You can read on the concept of matter here

Intelligence Quotient (IQ) is a score derived from a set of standardized tests developed to measure a person's cognitive abilities in relation to their age group.

IQ may also be defined as the ratio of mental age (MA) to chronological age (CA) multiplied by 100.

Below are some formulas pertaining Intelligence Quotient:

  • IQ = MA x 100 ÷ CA

  • MA = Mental age

  • CA = Chronological age

  • IQ above 100 = Brilliance

  • IQ that equals 100 = Average

  • IQ below 100 = Below Average