Alloys Flashcards
what is an alloy
a mixture of a metal with one or more other elements
what is steel
an alloy of iron and carbon
what is stainless steel used to make and why
it is used to make cutlery, surgical instruments and kitchen sinks as it resists rusting
what is brass
an alloy of carbon and zinc
what is magnalium
alloy of magnesium and aluminium
what is jewellery gold an alloy of
gold and copper
why are metals soft
in a pure metal, the atoms are all the same size and are arranged in regular layers. When a force is applied, the layers slide over each other easily, hence a pure metal is not strong but soft
why are alloys stronger than pure metals
in an alloy, the atoms of other elements present are of a different size to the metal atoms. They distort the regular structure, making it more difficult for the layers to slide over each other when a force is applied.
