This section seeks to explain the connection between the properties of metals and alloys and their uses, by making use of a simplified model of a metal giant structure.

Metals: are an element to the left side of the zig-zag line on the periodic table that has metallic properties. They lose electrons to form positive ions, they also have giant structures. Metals are good conductors of heat and electricity and have a high density (While there are several metals that have low density, hardness, and melting points, these are extremely reactive, and are rarely encountered in their elemental, metallic form). Metals tend to have high melting and boiling points (solid in room temperature). Metals are hard and malleable (can be bent into different shapes) and ductile (can be drawn out into wires). The atoms in metals are packed tightly together in a regular pattern, this allows the electrons to separate from their atoms, this leaves a lattice of ions in a sea of electrons.

Transition Metals: The transition metals are the middle block of 30 elements in the periodic table. Common transition metals include:

iron

copper

nickel

Transition metals are hard, tough and strong (cannot cut it with a knife), they have high melting points (except for mercury) and a high density. They are malleable and ductile they are also good conductors of heat and electricity (silver is the best then copper). Transition metals form coloured compounds.

Alloys: Are a mixture of different metals that have different properties from their original metals. Alloys are often used to enhance properties of a metal. For example, steel (an alloy) is stonger than iron (a metal). Metals are normally to soft, brittle and chemically reactive for practical use, therefore alloys are used. Alloys are made by melting the main metals and then dissolving the other substances in it. The physical properties of an alloy may not differ greatly from the elements in it, however the strength will change. 

Testing for cations: 

Examples of alloys

     Cupronickel

     Stainless steel

     Manganese steel

     A titanium alloy

     Brass

     Bronze

     Solder

C16 METALS AND ALLOYS include: -know some of the properties of common metals and alloys: Malleable, ductile, Shiny, Solids at room temperature except for Mercury, on the left hand side of the periodic table. They are also good conductors of heat and electricity. They also have a high boiling point and a high melting point -be able to describe the metallic bond using the "sea of electrons" model to account for malleability and electrical conductivity of metals: there are a lot of free electrons floating around in metals so electrical charges can be carried on the electrons making metals good conductors of electricity -understand that metals have giant structures: giant structures are ions bonded together -know that the transition elements are metals with high densities and high boiling pints which form coloured compounds -understand in terms of the difference in atomic size, why the malleability of an alloy of 2 metals is different from either of the pure metals used to make it -know that alloys are made by mixing molten metals -know that alloys may also contain non-metals, as exemplified by carbon in most types of steel -know that some metal cations can be identified by characteristic flame colours and this can be used as the bases for chemical analysis -know the characteristic flame colour for sodium, copper, calcium and potassium -know the tests for aqueous copper (II), iron (II), iron (III), zinc, using aqueous sodium hydroxide and aqueous ammonia