Learning objectives
• Developing: State what is meant by ‘pure’.
• Developing: Describe an alloy as being a metal to which
small amounts of other elements have been added. (UK NC,
iLS)
• Developing: Explain why metals are often alloyed with other
elements. (UK NC, iLS)
• Securing: State that a pure material has a fixed melting point
and boiling point, and use this to identify pure substances.
• Securing: Describe how impurities alter melting, freezing and
boiling points.
• Securing: Use models to explain why converting pure metals
into alloys often increases the strength of the product. (UK
NC, iLS)
Title: Uses of metals and Alloys
Keywords: properties, malleable, ductile, alloy, particles, hard, mixture
Do now:
Q1. Write down one advantage and disadvantage
of using painting as a form of rust prevention.
Q2. Explain how a sacrificial block works in
prevention iron from rusting.
Uses of metals video
Q1. What is gold and silver used for and what property makes them useful for this purpo
Q2. Why was copper used in water pipes?
Q3. What two properties make copper useful for electrical wires?
Q4. Give two uses of aluminium.
Q5. What two elements is steel made of?
Title: Uses of metals and Alloys
Keywords: properties, malleable, ductile, alloy, particles, hard, mixture
Uses of Aluminium
• Aluminum can be used in drinking cans as it is
malleable, does not corrode due to protective
layer and has a light density.
• Aluminum can be used to make bicycle frames
and aeroplanes as it has a low density, and it is
malleable.
Title: Uses of metals and Alloys
Keywords: properties, malleable, ductile, alloy, particles, hard, mixture
Uses of iron
• Iron is used for building bridges and making
boats. This is because iron can be made strong
by mixing it with carbon or other metals. This is
called an alloy.
• Iron can also be used for making iron nails as it
is malleable.
Title: Uses of metals and Alloys
Bronze: State the properties and uses of iron, aluminum and copper
Silver: Describe what an alloys is and know why alloys are useful.
Keywords: properties, malleable, ductile, alloy, particles, hard, mixture
Uses of copper
• Copper is used for water pipes. This is because
copper does not react with water, and it is
malleable.
• Copper can also be used for making wires as it
is ductile and can conduct electricity.
Title: Uses of metals and Alloys
Keywords: properties, malleable, ductile, alloy, particles, hard, mixture
Describe the difference in structure between a
pure metal and an alloy.
How do you think this difference will effect the
strength of the alloy in comparison to the pure
metal?
Difference: An alloy contains a mixture of elements
so the particles have different sizes
Title: Uses of metals and Alloys
Keywords: properties, malleable, ductile, alloy, particles, hard, mixture
An alloy is a mixture of a metal and other
elements, usually other metals or carbon.
• The particles in a pure • The particles in an alloy
metal are all the same size are different sizes
• They are arranged in layers • The layers are distorted so
than can easily slide over it is not easy for the layers
each other. to slide over each other
• This makes pure metals • This makes alloys much
soft (malleable) harder
Title: Uses of metals and Alloys
Keywords: properties, malleable, ductile, alloy, particles, hard, mixture
An alloy is a mixture of a metal and other
elements, usually other metals or carbon.
Example: Bronze is a mixture of copper
and tin atoms.
Title: Uses of metals and Alloys
Keywords: properties, malleable, ductile, alloy, particles, hard, mixture
Spot the mistake
Alloys are soft because the
particles are different sizes
and so the layers can slip
and slide over the other. Pure
metals are hard because the
particles are different sizes
and the layers can slip and
slip over each other.
Title: Uses of metals and Alloys
Keywords: properties, malleable, ductile, alloy, particles, hard, mixture
Spot the mistake
Alloys are soft because the
particles are different sizes
and so the layers can slip
and slide over the other. Pure
metals are hard because the
particles are different sizes
and the layers can slip and
slip over each other.
Title: Uses of metals and Alloys
Keywords: properties, malleable, ductile, alloy, particles, hard, mixture
Do Now – True/False:
1. Iron is less dense than aluminium
2. Aluminium can be used in drink cans and
aircraft bodies
3. An alloy is a mixture of metals e.g. bronze or a
mixture of a metal and non metal e.g. steel
4. Alloys are very malleable
5. Copper is used in making wires and aeroplanes
Title: Uses of metals and Alloys
Keywords: properties, malleable, ductile, alloy, particles, hard, mixture
Do Now – True/False:
1. Iron is less dense than aluminium
2. Aluminium can be used in drink cans and
aircraft bodies
3. An alloy is a mixture of metals e.g. bronze or a
mixture of a metal and non metal e.g. steel
4. Alloys are very malleable
5. Copper is used in making wires and aeroplanes
The Properties and Uses of Aluminium The Properties and Uses of Iron
Aluminium has the following properties: Iron has the following properties:
• It is lustrous (shiny) Lustrous (shiny)
• It has a low density High density
• It has a high melting point (around 660oC) High melting point (around 1500oC)
• It is malleable – can be hammered into shape Malleable – can be hammered into shape
• It is a good conductor of heat and electricity Good conductor of electricity and heat energy
• It does not corrode because it reacts very quickly with
oxygen to form a protective layer of aluminium oxide Task 2: Fill in the blanks using the keywords
Pure iron is very ______. To increase its strength it is often
Task 1: Read through the properties of aluminium and mixed with other elements such as _______ and/or other
suggest an explanation for the following: metals. An alloy is a __________of a__________and one or
(a) Aluminium is used to make drink cans because more elements, usually other metals or carbon. Alloys of
…………………………………………………………………………………………… iron are called ________. Stainless steel is very useful as it is
…………………………………………………………………………………………… resistance to _________
…………………………………………………………………………………………… Keywords: Steel, soft, Mixture, carbon, metal, corrosion
(b) Aluminium is used to make aeroplane bodies because
…………………………………………………………………………………………… Task 3: Research the different types of steel and provide
…………………………………………………………………………………………… two uses for each type.
…………………………………………………………………………………………… 1.
© What is meant by malleable and explain why is a metal ……………………………………………………………………………………………
malleable? ……………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………….
…………………………………………………………………………………………… 2.
(d) Explain why are metals are good conductors of heat and ……………………………………………………………………………………………
electricity? ……………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………….
…………………………………………………………………………………………… 3.
……………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………
Title: Uses of metals and Alloys
Keywords: properties, malleable, ductile, alloy, particles, hard, mixture
