Minerals to Metals Part 8

Question 1

What is an alloy?

Answer 1

A metal made by mixing two or more metals which often combine the properties of metals

Question 2

What is steel?

Answer 2

A common alloy, containing iron mixed with carbon

Question 3

By changing the amount of each element in an alloy, what can material scientists do?

Answer 3

Custom-make alloy properties to fit a given job

Question 4

What is brass made of and what are its properties ?

Answer 4

70% copper, 30% tin,

Does not corrode, attractive gold colour, easily worked

Question 5

What is duralumin made of and what are its properties?

Answer 5

Aluminium, copper, magnesium, manganese

Strong, light, low density, resists corrosion

Question 6

What is a magnesium alloy made of and what are its properties?

Answer 6

Magnesium and aluminium

Light, easily cast, hard, high melting point

Question 7

What is tungsten steel made of and what are its properties?

Answer 7

Iron, carbon, tungsten, chromium

Very hard and resistant to wear

Question 8

What is stainless steel made of and what are its properties?

Answer 8

70% iron, 1% carbon, 20% chromium, 9% nickel

Does not corrode, shiny, strong, hard

Question 9

What is bronze made of and what are its properties?

Answer 9

95% copper, 5% tin

Shiny, attractive, does not corrode

Question 10

What is alnico made of and what are its properties?

Answer 10

Aluminium and nickel

Excellent magnetic properties

Question 11

What is solder made of and what are its properties?

Answer 11

70% tin, 30% lead

Solids at room temperature, melts easily

Question 12

What is cupronickel made of and what are its properties?

Answer 12

75% copper, 25% nickel

Cheap, light, hard, does not corrode

Question 13

What is dental amalgam made of and what are its properties?

Answer 13

Mercury and silver

Soft, sets hard and is chemically inert

Question 14

Which alloy would you use to make a high speed drill and why?

Answer 14

Tungsten steel because it is very hard and resistant to wear

Question 15

Which alloy would you use to join electrical components and why?

Answer 15

Solder because it has a low melting point

Question 16

Which alloy would you use to make jet engine parts and why?

Answer 16

Magnesium alloy because it is light, hard and has a high melting point

Question 17

Which alloy would you use to make a kitchen sink and why?

Answer 17

Brass because it does not corrode and is of an attractive gold colour

Question 18

Which alloy would you use to make statues and why?

Answer 18

Bronze because it is shiny, attractive and does not corrode

Question 19

Which alloy would you use to make magnets and why?

Answer 19

Alnico because it has excellent magnetic properties

Question 20

Which alloy would you use to make coins?

Answer 20

Cupro-nickel because it is 75% copper, cheap and does not corrode