4.2.2.7 - Properties of metals and alloys

What structure do metals have?

Metals have giant structures of atoms with strong metallic bonding.

Do metals have high or low melting points?

Most metals have high melting and boiling points

Due to their strong metallic bonding

What state are metals at room temperature?

Solid - due to high melting points

(except mercury)

What is one main property of metals?

Malleable

What is meant by ‘malleable’?

The metals can be bent and shaped

Explain why most pure metals are malleable?

As in pure metals, their atoms are arranged in layers, allowing these layers to slide over one another

Why are alloys used more than pure metals in everyday life?

Pure metals are too soft for many uses and so are mixed with other metals to make alloys which are harder.

What is an alloy?

An alloy is a mixture of two or more elements, at least one of which is a metal

Explain why alloys are harder than pure metals.

Different elements have differed sized atoms

So when another element is mixed with a pure element, the new metals will distort the layers of metal atoms

Making it harder for them to slide over each other.

This makes alloys harder than pure metals