Define the term malleable .

A malleable material can be hammered or pressed into different shapes without breaking. Metals are malleable because layers of positive metal ions can slide over each other.

Why do metals conduct electricity?

Metals conduct electricity because they have delocalised electrons that are free to move through the metal structure, carrying charge.

True or False? Most non-metals have high melting and boiling points.

False. Most non-metals have low melting and boiling points because they have weak intermolecular forces that require little energy to overcome. Many are gases at room temperature.

Metals have .......... melting and boiling points because the strong electrostatic attraction between positive metal ions and .......... electrons requires a lot of energy to break.

Metals have high melting and boiling points because the strong electrostatic attraction between positive metal ions and delocalised electrons requires a lot of energy to break.

Define the term ductile .

A ductile material can be drawn out into wires without breaking. Metals are ductile because layers of positive metal ions can slide over each other.

What products form when a metal reacts with cold water?

When a metal reacts with cold water, the products are a metal hydroxide and hydrogen gas. For example: Ca (s) + 2H 2 O (l) → Ca(OH) 2 (aq) + H 2 (g)

True or False? When a metal reacts with steam, the products are a metal hydroxide and hydrogen.

False. When a metal reacts with steam , the products are a metal oxide and hydrogen . It is not a metal hydroxide. A metal hydroxide forms only when the metal reacts with cold water.

When a metal reacts with an acid, the .......... atom in the acid is replaced by the metal to produce a .......... and hydrogen gas.

When a metal reacts with an acid, the hydrogen atom in the acid is replaced by the metal to produce a salt and hydrogen gas.

Why are non-metals described as brittle when solid?

Non-metals are brittle because, unlike metals, their electrons are all involved in covalent bonding. The layers cannot slide over each other, so the structure shatters when force is applied.

What property of aluminium makes it suitable for making aircraft bodies?

Aluminium has a low density (giving a high strength-to-weight ratio), which keeps aircraft lightweight without sacrificing strength.

True or False? Aluminium is used for overhead power cables because it is the best electrical conductor.

False. Aluminium is used for overhead power cables because of its low density and good electrical conductivity — not because it is the best conductor. Copper is a better conductor but is much denser.

Why is aluminium resistant to corrosion despite being a reactive metal?

Aluminium forms a thin, protective layer of aluminium oxide on its surface. This layer prevents oxygen and water from reaching the metal underneath, stopping further corrosion.

Copper is used in electrical wiring because it is a very good .......... of electricity and is .......... , meaning it can be drawn into thin wires.

Copper is used in electrical wiring because it is a very good conductor of electricity and is ductile , meaning it can be drawn into thin wires.

Give two reasons why copper is used for water pipes.

Copper is used for water pipes because it is: Non-toxic and unreactive with water Malleable , so it can be bent into shape

True or False? Aluminium food cans rely on aluminium's resistance to corrosion.

True. Aluminium is used for food cans because it is resistant to corrosion and non-toxic, including against acidic foods. Its low density also makes the cans lightweight.

Copper is used for pots and pans because it is a very good conductor of .......... , is unreactive , and is .......... .

Copper is used for pots and pans because it is a very good conductor of heat , is unreactive, and is malleable .

Give two properties that make aluminium suitable for overhead electrical cables.

Low density — keeps the cables lightweight, reducing sag and support costs Good electrical conductivity — allows efficient transfer of electrical current

Why is copper preferred over aluminium for electrical wiring inside buildings?

Copper is preferred because it has higher electrical conductivity than aluminium, making it more efficient for carrying current over short distances in wiring.

Define the term alloy .

An alloy is a mixture of a metal with other elements. Most alloys contain more than one metal, but some contain non-metals.

What metals make up brass , and why is it useful?

Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc . It is much stronger than either pure metal, making it useful for musical instruments, ornaments, and door knobs.

Stainless steel is an alloy of .......... and other elements such as .......... , nickel and carbon. It is used in cutlery because of its hardness and resistance to rusting.

Stainless steel is an alloy of iron and other elements such as chromium , nickel and carbon. It is used in cutlery because of its hardness and resistance to rusting.

True or False? Alloys are compounds because they contain more than one element.

False. Alloys are mixtures , not compounds. The elements in an alloy are not chemically combined, so the alloy does not have a fixed chemical formula.

How can you identify an alloy from a diagram of its structure?

An alloy is shown by a diagram with different-sized particles arranged in irregular, distorted layers . A pure metal has uniform-sized particles in regular rows.

Why are alloys often harder and stronger than pure metals? (Extended Tier Only)

Alloys contain atoms of different sizes , which distort the regular arrangement of layers. This makes it harder for the layers to slide over each other , so the alloy is harder and stronger.

In a pure metal, layers of positive ions can .......... over each other easily. In an alloy, atoms of .......... sizes disrupt this, making the alloy harder. (Extended Tier Only)

In a pure metal, layers of positive ions can slide over each other easily. In an alloy, atoms of different sizes disrupt this, making the alloy harder.

True or False? Stainless steel is used in cutlery because it is resistant to rusting.

True. Stainless steel is used in cutlery because of its hardness and resistance to rusting (corrosion). These properties come from the addition of chromium, nickel and carbon to iron.

Give two properties that alloys can have compared to pure metals.

Alloys can be: Harder and stronger than the pure metals they contain More resistant to corrosion or extreme temperatures

IGCSEScienceCambridge (CIE)Combined ScienceChemistryFlashcards9. MetalsProperties, Uses & Alloys of Metals

Properties, Uses & Alloys of Metals (Cambridge (CIE) IGCSE Combined Science: Chemistry): Flashcards

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FrontProperties of Metals
Define the term malleable.

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Cards in this collection (27)

Define the term malleable.
A malleable material can be hammered or pressed into different shapes without breaking. Metals are malleable because layers of positive metal ions can slide over each other.
Why do metals conduct electricity?
Metals conduct electricity because they have delocalised electrons that are free to move through the metal structure, carrying charge.
True or False?
Most non-metals have high melting and boiling points.
False.
Most non-metals have low melting and boiling points because they have weak intermolecular forces that require little energy to overcome. Many are gases at room temperature.
Metals have .......... melting and boiling points because the strong electrostatic attraction between positive metal ions and .......... electrons requires a lot of energy to break.
Metals have high melting and boiling points because the strong electrostatic attraction between positive metal ions and delocalised electrons requires a lot of energy to break.
Define the term ductile.
A ductile material can be drawn out into wires without breaking. Metals are ductile because layers of positive metal ions can slide over each other.
What products form when a metal reacts with cold water?
When a metal reacts with cold water, the products are a metal hydroxide and hydrogen gas.
For example: Ca (s) + 2H₂O (l) → Ca(OH)₂ (aq) + H₂ (g)
True or False?
When a metal reacts with steam, the products are a metal hydroxide and hydrogen.
False.
When a metal reacts with steam, the products are a metal oxide and hydrogen. It is not a metal hydroxide. A metal hydroxide forms only when the metal reacts with cold water.
When a metal reacts with an acid, the .......... atom in the acid is replaced by the metal to produce a .......... and hydrogen gas.
When a metal reacts with an acid, the hydrogen atom in the acid is replaced by the metal to produce a salt and hydrogen gas.
Why are non-metals described as brittle when solid?
Non-metals are brittle because, unlike metals, their electrons are all involved in covalent bonding. The layers cannot slide over each other, so the structure shatters when force is applied.
What property of aluminium makes it suitable for making aircraft bodies?
Aluminium has a low density (giving a high strength-to-weight ratio), which keeps aircraft lightweight without sacrificing strength.
True or False?
Aluminium is used for overhead power cables because it is the best electrical conductor.
False.
Aluminium is used for overhead power cables because of its low density and good electrical conductivity — not because it is the best conductor. Copper is a better conductor but is much denser.
Why is aluminium resistant to corrosion despite being a reactive metal?
Aluminium forms a thin, protective layer of aluminium oxide on its surface. This layer prevents oxygen and water from reaching the metal underneath, stopping further corrosion.
Copper is used in electrical wiring because it is a very good .......... of electricity and is .........., meaning it can be drawn into thin wires.
Copper is used in electrical wiring because it is a very good conductor of electricity and is ductile, meaning it can be drawn into thin wires.
Give two reasons why copper is used for water pipes.
Copper is used for water pipes because it is:
1. Non-toxic and unreactive with water
2. Malleable, so it can be bent into shape
True or False?
Aluminium food cans rely on aluminium's resistance to corrosion.
True.
Aluminium is used for food cans because it is resistant to corrosion and non-toxic, including against acidic foods. Its low density also makes the cans lightweight.
Copper is used for pots and pans because it is a very good conductor of .........., is unreactive, and is ...........
Copper is used for pots and pans because it is a very good conductor of heat, is unreactive, and is malleable.
Give two properties that make aluminium suitable for overhead electrical cables.
1. Low density — keeps the cables lightweight, reducing sag and support costs
2. Good electrical conductivity — allows efficient transfer of electrical current
Why is copper preferred over aluminium for electrical wiring inside buildings?
Copper is preferred because it has higher electrical conductivity than aluminium, making it more efficient for carrying current over short distances in wiring.
Define the term alloy.
An alloy is a mixture of a metal with other elements. Most alloys contain more than one metal, but some contain non-metals.
What metals make up brass, and why is it useful?
Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc. It is much stronger than either pure metal, making it useful for musical instruments, ornaments, and door knobs.
Stainless steel is an alloy of .......... and other elements such as .........., nickel and carbon. It is used in cutlery because of its hardness and resistance to rusting.
Stainless steel is an alloy of iron and other elements such as chromium, nickel and carbon. It is used in cutlery because of its hardness and resistance to rusting.
True or False?
Alloys are compounds because they contain more than one element.
False.
Alloys are mixtures, not compounds. The elements in an alloy are not chemically combined, so the alloy does not have a fixed chemical formula.
How can you identify an alloy from a diagram of its structure?
An alloy is shown by a diagram with different-sized particles arranged in irregular, distorted layers. A pure metal has uniform-sized particles in regular rows.
Why are alloys often harder and stronger than pure metals? (Extended Tier Only)
Alloys contain atoms of different sizes, which distort the regular arrangement of layers. This makes it harder for the layers to slide over each other, so the alloy is harder and stronger.
In a pure metal, layers of positive ions can .......... over each other easily. In an alloy, atoms of .......... sizes disrupt this, making the alloy harder. (Extended Tier Only)
In a pure metal, layers of positive ions can slide over each other easily. In an alloy, atoms of different sizes disrupt this, making the alloy harder.
True or False?
Stainless steel is used in cutlery because it is resistant to rusting.
True.
Stainless steel is used in cutlery because of its hardness and resistance to rusting (corrosion). These properties come from the addition of chromium, nickel and carbon to iron.
Give two properties that alloys can have compared to pure metals.
Alloys can be:
1. Harder and stronger than the pure metals they contain
2. More resistant to corrosion or extreme temperatures

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