C3.6 Ceramics

Question 1

What is a ceramic?

Answer 1

A ceramic is a compound such as a metal silicate or oxide, that is strong, hard and has a high melting point.

Question 2

List some uses of ceramic materials.

Answer 2

Ceramics can be used as :

Bricks (building meterials), plates, jugs, bowls and insulators etc.

Question 3

Give examples of ceramics.

Answer 3

Examples of ceramics include metal oxides, metal silicates metal carbides and metal nitrides.

Question 4

List some physical properties of ceramics.

Answer 4

Physical properties of ceramics include:

• They are hard
• They are brittle - they break easily
• They are stiff
• They are solid at room temperature; they have very high melting points.
• They are electrical insulators.
• They are strong when forces press on them.

Question 5

List some chemical properties of ceramics.

Answer 5

Chemical properties of ceramics include:

They do not react with water, acids or alkalis.

Question 6

Why are ceramics hard?

Answer 6

Ceramics are hard because the bonds between the atoms are very strong.

Question 7

How do atoms bond in ceramics?

Answer 7

In ceramic materials, a huge number of atoms join together in one big structure. There are strong forces between the atoms.

Question 8

Why do ceramics have high melting points?

Answer 8

Ceramics have high melting points because a great amount of energy is needed to break the strong forces between atoms.