Metals

Properties Pure Metals and Alloys

2012

No. 1

Success Criteria State that metals as solids have high melting and boiling points, are malleable and good conductors of heat and electricity Define alloys: Mixture of a metal and a few other elements Draw a labelled diagram to show the structure of a metal and an alloy

State and explain the preferred use of alloys over the pure metal Relate the properties of alloys to its use

Subtopics/Main Ideas

Physical properties of metals

Malleable (can be hammered into shapes without breaking) Ductile (can be drawn into wires)

Conductor of heat and electricity

(Recall: Metallic bonding) High melting points and boiling points (except Gr I metals)

Experiment to show that metals conduct electricity

lights

Metal
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Draw the circuit diagram

delocalised electrons

How do metals conduct electricity?

Watch the Flash Animation on metallic bonding

Metallic bonding is the force of attraction between _______________ ions and positive metal the delocalised ____________ electrons.

Positive ions

When a potential difference is applied across the metal, the electrons move towards the direction of the positive terminal.
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Subtopics/Main Ideas

Alloys

Mixture of metals and other elements

Bronze = copper + tin

Brass = copper + zinc

Stainless steel = iron + carbon + chromium + nickel

Subtopics/Main Ideas

Structure of Pure Metals

Atoms : same size and regular arrangement

They can slide over one another easily.

This makes pure metals soft.

This also explains why metals are malleable and ductile.

Subtopics/Main Ideas

Alloys

Atoms : different sizes and irregular arrangement

They cannot slide easily over one another.

Hence, alloys are stronger and less malleable.

This explains why alloys are preferred to pure metals.

Subtopics/Main Ideas

Uses of Alloys

Brass : Copper + Zinc Uses: Coins and musical instruments Reason: does not corrode easily; Looks like gold Stainless steel: iron + carbon + chromium + nickel
Chromium and nickel is introduced to improve resistance to corrosion.

Uses: cutlery and surgical instruments Reason: resistant to corrosion; strong

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Subtopics/Main Ideas

Uses of Mild Steel Steel Alloys Uses: Car bodies and machineries
Reason: Hard, strong and malleable High Carbon Steel Uses: Cutting and boring tools Reason: Strong but brittle (* as the amount of carbon added increases, the strength of the alloy increases but the alloy will be more brittle as the layer of atoms are unable to slide easily)

Steel: Mixture of iron and carbon

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Test your understanding

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Properties of Metals Cooking pots are sometimes made of copper. Explain why copper is used for this purpose.

Copper is a good conductor of heat

And it will not corrode.

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Properties of metals

Aluminium is even more often used for cooking pots than copper. State one reason for this. Aluminium is lighter than copper.

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Although aluminium is a reactive metal, why is it often used in.

Aluminium has a protective layer of aluminium oxide.

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Importance of steel in everyday lives

What is the base material for making steel? IRON What impurities are needed to be removed? CARBON Why is oxygen blown into melted steel? TO REMOVE IMPURITIES What is the final step in steel making? OTHER ELEMENTS ARE ADDED TO ADJUST THE COMPOSITION OF STEEL Steel (1)

Steel (2)

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