Metals and Alloys Flashcards

1️⃣ Familiarise yourself with the flashcards:

  • Look through all the flashcards to see what's on both sides.
  • Make sure you understand the information on each card. If something's unclear, click the link to the revision notes at the bottom of the page for more details.

2️⃣ Test yourself:

  • Look at the question or prompt on each card and try to remember the answer before flipping it over.
  • Check the answer and make a note of any cards you find challenging and need to go over more.

3️⃣ Consistently Review and Practice:

  • Use spaced repetition: spend more time on the cards you struggle with and go over them more often.
  • Regularly review all the flashcards to help you better understand and retain the information over time.

Note: We may include questions that have multiple correct answers. It's useful to remember specific examples to understand these concepts better.

PERSONALISED 1-TO-1 TUTORING

Need more help on this topic? Get 1-to-1 support

Get support with clear explanations, practice and feedback (Ages 5 to 16).

  • DBS-checked tutors
  • Flexible times
  • Parents can be updated

Want an ad-free experience? Subscribe to remove ads

What is an alloy?

A mixture of a metal with other elements.

Why are alloys usually harder than pure metals?

Different-sized atoms distort the layers, so the layers cannot slide easily.

Why can pure metals be bent and shaped easily?

Their atoms are in layers that can slide over each other.

What does malleable mean?

It can be hammered or pressed into shape without breaking.

Why do metals conduct electricity?

They have free electrons that can move and carry charge.

What is bronze made from?

Copper and tin.

What is brass made from?

Copper and zinc.

What is steel and why is it used instead of pure iron?

An alloy of iron with carbon (and other elements). It is stronger and harder.

What is stainless steel and one key property?

A steel alloy with chromium (often nickel). It resists rusting.

Why are aluminium alloys used for aircraft?

They are strong but have low density, so they are light.

What does 24-carat gold mean?

It is pure gold: 24 out of 24 parts are gold.

How does adding more carbon affect steel?

It makes the steel harder but more brittle and harder to shape.