Topic 4 - Uses of Metals (Paper 2)

Question 1

what are the similar properties of iron, aluminum and copper?

Answer 1

dense, shiny and have high melting points
high tensile strength
malleable
good conductors of electricty and heat

Question 2

how would you change the properties of iron?

Answer 2

adding other materials to the iron

Question 3

what is the main problem with using iron?

Answer 3

it corrodes easily

Question 4

does aluminium corrode easily?

Answer 4

no

Question 5

what properties make aluminum useful?

Answer 5

it doesnt corrode so can come into contact with water
its less dense than iron so is lighter

Question 6

what properties make copper useful?

Answer 6

its efficient at transfering electrity as it has low resistance
its also efficient as transferring heat

Question 7

why are pure metals often not used in everyday life?

Answer 7

the regular structure of pure metals makes them soft

Question 8

what are alloys?

Answer 8

metals and another element/elements

Question 9

how are alloys harder than pure metals?

Answer 9

different elements have different sized atoms. when another element is mixed with a pure metal the new atoms change the size of the atoms, making it harder for them to slide over eachother

Question 10

how are steels made?

Answer 10

adding small amounts of carbon and sometimes other metals to iron