Alloys and their properties
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can compare pure metals with their alloys, and give examples of alloys and their uses.
Key learning points
- Iron is alloyed with other metals to produce steel alloys.
- Copper is alloyed with other metals to make multiple useful alloys.
- Gold, aluminium, and magnesium all form useful alloys with other metals.
Keywords
Alloy - A mixture of two or more elements, where at least one element is a metal.
Steel - An alloy of iron that contains specific amounts of carbon and may contain other metals.
Carat - A unit for measuring the purity of gold.
Brittle - A substance that has the ability to break up easily.
Common misconception
Pupils often find it difficult to apply what they have learnt about alloys when asked about an unfamiliar one, or when provided with a table of data.
Provide pupils with a range of different examples of alloys. Give them plenty of practice of comparing the properties of the alloy with those of the pure metal.
Teacher tip
Where possible, provide samples of pure metals and alloys so that the pupils can see the differences for themselves: for example iron and steel or lead, tin and solder.
Equipment
None required.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which of the following best describes an alloy?
Q2.Metallic bonding consists of metal ions in a 'sea' of .
Q3.Why are pure metals ductile?
Q4.Is this statement true or false? Pure metals are generally more malleable than their alloy counterparts.
Q5.What is 25% of 50.0? Give your answer to 3 significant figures.
Q6.Why do metals have high melting points?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Match the following terms to the correct definition.
a measure of the purity of gold
hard but breaks easily
alloy of iron
Q2.Which two metals are found in the alloy bronze?
Q3.Which of the following statements about steel are correct?
Q4.Which of the following are examples of alloys?
Q5.A 0.500 kg piece of copper alloy contains 27% aluminium. What mass of aluminium does it contain? Give your answer to three significant figures.
Q6.Why do metal alloys usually have lower melting points than the metals they are made from?
To help you plan your 10 chemistry lesson on: Alloys and their properties, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 10 chemistry lesson on: Alloys and their properties, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 4 chemistry lessons from the Structure and bonding unit, dive into the full secondary chemistry curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.