Properties of metals and alloys

Question 1

Describe the structure of metals

Answer 1

Metals have a giant structure of atoms with strong metallic bonds. It is these strong metallic bonds that mean that most metals have high melting and boiling points

Question 2

Describe the arrangement of atoms in pure metals

Answer 2

• Metals can be bent into different shapes due to their layers of atoms
• In a pure metal they are able to slide over each other easily because they’re all the same size.

Question 3

What are the properties of metals

Answer 3

• Good conductors
• Ions held together by strong electrostatic attraction between positive metallic ions and negative electron
• High melting and boiling point
• high density
• opaque

Question 4

What is an alloy?

Answer 4

An alloy** is a **mixture** of two or more **elements**, where at least one element is a **metal. Many alloys are mixtures of two or more metals.

Question 5

What can you use alloys for

Answer 5

cooking utensils

Question 6

explain the properties of an alloy (compared to pure metals)

Answer 6

• Alloys are less malleable
• Alloys are less reactive
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Question 7

Describe the structure of an alloy

Answer 7

• Different elements have different sized atoms - when another element is mixed with a pure metal to make an alloy, the layers become distorted - This makes it more difficult for them to slide over each other - Making alloys harder than pure metal