7) Properties of metals and alloys

• Metallic bonds are very strong and most metals have high melting and boiling points. This means that they are useful structural materials.
• The delocalised electrons can move around freely and transfer energy. This makes metals good thermal and electrical conductors.
• The particles in pure metals have a regular arrangement.
• The particles in pure metals have a regular arrangement.
• Traditionally, copper is used to make water pipes because:

  • it is an unreactive metal, so it does not react with water
  • it can be easily shaped.
• Most metal objects are made from alloys - mixtures that contain a metal and at least one other element.
• Pure metals are too soft for many uses.
• In alloys, the added element disturbs the regular arrangement of the metal atoms so the layers do not slide over each other so easily.
• This means alloys are usually stronger and harder than pure metals.