Properties Of Metals

Question 1

What are some everyday uses of metals because of their properties?

Answer 1

Their strength and ‘bendability’ makes them handy for making things like bridges and car bodies.
Ideal if you want to make something that heat needs to travel through, like a saucepan base.
Electrical conductivity makes them great for making things like electrical wires.

Question 2

What are the properties of Aluminium? What can it be used for?

Answer 2

Low density and corrosion resistant.
Pure aluminium isn’t particularly strong, but it forms hard, strong alloys.
Good structural material, e.g: window frames, electricity cables and aircraft.

Question 3

What are the properties of Copper? What can it be used for?

Answer 3

Hard and strong, has a high melting point. It’s a good conductor of electricity, so it’s ideal for drawing out into electrical wires. It can also be made into pipes. Below hydrogen in the reactivity series, so it doesn’t react with water. Great for using in plumbing.

Question 4

What are the properties of Gold? What can it be used for?

Answer 4

Shiny and extremely easy to shape. Used for jewellery and in situations where you want a metal that won’t react with anything, such as in tooth fillings and in electric circuits.

Question 5

So metals corrode?

Answer 5

Yes. Some metals corrode over time.

Question 6

Why does corrosion happen!

Answer 6

Corrosion happens because the metal is being oxidised.

Question 7

Which metals in the reactivity series are more likely to corrode?

Answer 7

Metals which are high in the reactivity series because they react more easily with oxygen.

Question 8

Name some typical properties of metals.

Answer 8

• They’re strong, but can be hammered it bent into different shapes
• Conduct heat
• Conduct electricity