Uses of different metals and

SC15.15w alloys – Homework 2

The table shows some properties of four metals. Use this information to help you answer questions 1–3.
Metal
Property aluminium copper 22-carat gold pure gold
Corrosion resistance very good good excellent excellent
Cost (£ per kg) 1.00 3.00 25 200 27 500
Density (g/cm3) 2.70 8.96 18.4 19.3
Hardness (MPa) 250 350 690 200
Melting point (°C) 660 1085 1060 1064
Relative electrical conductivity 3.5 6.0 4.6 4.5
Relative thermal conductivity 2.4 4.0 3.3 3.2
Tensile strength (MPa) 80 300 350 120
1 Copper is used in household electrical wiring, but aluminium is used in long overhead electricity cables.
Explain why:
a copper, rather than the other three metals, is most suitable for use in household electrical wiring
it has the highest electrical conductivity
b aluminium, rather than the other three metals, is most suitable for use in overhead electricity cables.
It has the worst electrical conductivity
2 Gold leaf is very thin gold sheet. It is used to decorate buildings and artwork.
It has lower density and excellent corrosion resistance
Explain why 22-carat gold is more often used than pure gold.
It has a higher hardness and tensile strength and also less expensive
3 The microprocessor chips in computers become very hot in use. To prevent them becoming hot enough to
be damaged, metal heat sinks are attached. Heat sinks transfer energy to the surroundings by heating. If
the heat sink is too heavy, it may separate from the chip if the computer is moved. Heat sinks are
commonly made from aluminium or copper. Some people think it is worth paying more for copper heat
sinks instead of aluminium heat sinks.
Evaluate the use of aluminium and copper in making heat sinks for computers.

They have a higher relative thermal conductivity as well as a high melting point

Extra challenge
4 Different substances can be combined to make composite materials. Steel-reinforced concrete is an
example of a composite material. Concrete is poured into a meshwork of steel bars and then gradually sets
hard around the steel.
Composite materials have improved properties compared with those of the individual substances they
contain. The table shows some information about concrete and steel.
Material Tensile strength Compressive strength Corrosion resistance
concrete low high good
steel high medium poor
a Suggest reasons that explain why steel-reinforced concrete has high tensile strength and high
compressive strength.
Since steel has high tensile strength and concrete has compressive strength
b Explain why steel bars in steel-reinforced concrete are less likely to rust than steel bars in the open air.
Because concrete has good corrosion resistance also the concrete is blocking the steel from any water
and oxygen
c When steel rusts completely, the rust occupies about twice the volume that the steel did. Explain why
rusting damages the concrete in steel-reinforced concrete.
Loss of reinforcement area and damage in the surrounding concrete.