Stage 7 Chemistry Unit 2: Material properties

2.0 Materials
 Materials are the different types of matter that things
are made of.
 The products that we use are made of different materials.
 Choosing the right material for each job depends on the
properties of that material.

Properties of materials
Different materials behave in different ways.

They have different properties:

 melting point  hardness

 strength in tension (when pulled)  density

 strength in compression (when  conductivity

pushed)  water absorption

 stiffness

2.1 Elements
An element is a substance that cannot be split into anything simpler.

Everything is made up of one or more elements.

Every element has its own properties.

E.g. Gold, Silver, Oxygen, and Nitrogen.

Periodic table
The periodic table lists all the elements, and groups together elements with
similar properties.

The periodic table shows a stepped line:

 metals are on the left of the stepped line, while

 non-metals are on the right.

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Stage 7 Chemistry Unit 2: Material properties

Metals and non-metals

The properties of a typical metal and non-metal in solid state.

Metal Non-metal
High melting and boiling points Low melting and boiling points
Solid state at 20oC (except Gases state at 20oC (except
mercury) bromine and iodine)
Shiny Dull
High density Low density
Sonorous Not sonorous
Malleable
Brittle
Ductile
Good conductor of electricity Poor conductor of electricity
Good conductor of heat Poor conductor of heat

Terminology:

Sonority: Ability to produce a ringing sound.

Malleable: Ability to be hammered into shape without cracking.

Ductile: Ablility to be pulled out to make wires.

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Stage 7 Chemistry Unit 2: Material properties

Metalloid/semimetal
Metalloids are elements containing properties similar and midway between metals
and non-metals.

Silicon is a semiconductor. It conducts electricity less well than metals,

but better than non-metals.

Silicon exists as a shiny, grey solid at 20oC. It is not bendy but brittle.

2.2 Metal alloys

An alloy is a mixture of metals.

Some alloys also include a non-element.

Many alloys are harder or stronger than the elements that are in them.

Alloys have different properties from their elements, making them more useful.

2.2.1 Steel
There are many types of steel, which are alloys of iron.

Pure iron is very soft and bendy, so it is not very useful.

Name of alloy Other elements Properties Uses

Low carbon steel Carbon Strong, easily Bridges, buildings,
shaped ships, vehicles
Manganese steel Manganese, Hard, tough Mining equipment,
Carbon railway points
Stainless steel Chromium, Nickel, Does not rust Knives, fork,
Carbon surgical
instruments

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Stage 7 Chemistry Unit 2: Material properties

2.2.2 Duralumin
Most aeroplane bodies contain lots of aluminium, but they are no made of pure
aluminium.

Pure aluminium is too weak.

Duralumin contains 96% aluminium, which is mixed with 4% of copper and other
metals, such as zinc, or magnesium.

2.2.3 Bronze
Bronze is an alloy of copper and tin, which was the first man-made alloy.

Bronze is harder and more durable than stone.

2.2.4 Brass
Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc.

It does not tarnish and is used for door knobs, buttons and musical instruments.

2.2.5 Amalgam
Amalgam is an alloy of mercury with silver or tin.

It is used for dental fillings because it can be shaped when warm and resists
corrosion.

2.2.6 Gold alloys

Pure gold is actually quite soft. Adding small amounts of other metals makes the
gold hard enough to use in jewellery.

Alloying gold with different metals also affects it colour.

 Yellow gold is an alloy of gold mixed with copper and silver.

 White gold is an alloy of gold with nickel, platinum or palladium.

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Stage 7 Chemistry Unit 2: Material properties

Why alloys are stronger that pure metal?

The atoms in pure metal are arranged in
densely-packed layers. These layers can
slide over each other. This makes pure iron
a very soft material.

The atoms of other elements are different

sizes. When other elements are added to
the metal, their atoms distort the regular
structure of the metal atoms. It is more
difficult for the layers of metal atoms in
alloy to slide over each other and so alloy is
stronger than pure metal.

2.3 Polymers
Polymers are substances that have very long particles.

Plastics are synthetic polymers that can be shaped by heat or pressure

Plastics are all different, but they show a few general properties:

 They do not conduct electricity and are poor conductors of heat

 They are unreactive – most are not affected by water or air, and many
are not affected by chemicals.

Their unreactivity makes plastics durable and able to safely contain and protect
many substances. However, it also means that they persist in the environment
for a long time.

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Stage 7 Chemistry Unit 2: Material properties

2.3.1 Polyethene
Polyethene are made by joining up particles of
two elements – carbon and hydrogen.

Physical properties:

 Waterproof.
 Strong (difficult to break up its
particles).
 Tough.
 Electrical insulator.
 Flexible (particle can slide over each other easily).

Example: plastic bags and bottle.

2.3.2 Polypropene
Physical properties:

 Not damaged by high temperatures.

 Flexible.
 Can bend many times without breaking it.

Example: ropes, underground water pipes, hinges for flip-

top bottles.

2.3.3 Polychloroethene (PVC)

Physical properties:

 Waterproof.
 Flexible
 Does not conduct electricity.

Example: underground water pipes, the

insulation on electric cables, waterproof clothes.

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Stage 7 Chemistry Unit 2: Material properties

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Stage 7 Chemistry Unit 2: Material properties

2.4 Choosing suitable materials

The table below shows some properties of a number of materials. Consider
which materials would be suitable to make a pair of shoes.

Materials and their properties

cotton leather polythene rubber wood

flexible yes yes yes yes no

hard no no no no fairly

tough not very yes yes yes yes

heavy no no no no yes

attractive yes yes yes no yes

durable fairly very fairly very very

Suitable materials for making the uppers of shoes are cotton, leather and

polythene. They are flexible, tough, light and attractive. Rubber is unsuitable as

it is unattractive and wood is too heavy and inflexible.

Rubber and leather are both good materials for making the soles of shoes

because they are flexible and durable ie hard-wearing. Cotton and polythene are

flexible but not durable enough, and wood is durable but not flexible enough.

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