Properties of Metals & Alloys Flashcards

All 6 cards in this deck

What type of structure and bonding do metals have?

Giant structures of atoms held together by strong metallic bonding.

Why do most metals have high melting and boiling points?

They have giant structures with strong metallic bonding, so a lot of energy is needed to overcome the bonds.

Why can pure metals be bent and shaped?

Their atoms are arranged in layers, which can slide over each other.

What is an alloy?

A metal mixed with other metals (or elements); alloys are harder than pure metals.

Why are alloys harder than pure metals?

The atoms are of different sizes, so the layers are distorted and cannot slide over each other easily.

True or false? Pure metals are too soft for many uses, which is why they are mixed to make alloys.

True. Alloys are harder because different sized atoms distort the layers of atoms.