ChemistryCode 5070
Alloys and their properties
What this topic asks you to be able to do
- Describe an alloy as a metal mixed with other elements, including: brass, which is copper mixed with zinc, and stainless steel, which is iron mixed with other elements such as chromium, nickel and carbon
- Explain, from its structure, why an alloy may be harder and stronger than pure metals: its atoms or ions are of different sizes, so the layers can no longer slide past one another
- outline the applications of alloys based on their physical properties, including stainless steel in cutlery, chosen for its hardness and its ability to withstand rusting
- Identify which structure diagrams show an alloy