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2.1Material Properties

Material Properties

5 min read 6 parts Lesson 1 of 1 1 quiz

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Lesson summary

2.1 Material Properties — CHECKPOINT (CHEMISTRY) notes: Describe the properties of materials and choose a material for a job.Rule — a material is chosen for its properties, and the property is linked to the jobStrength — resists being pulled apart or squashed: steel in a bridgeHa…

  • Conductivity
  • Flexibility and brittleness
  • Strong and tough
  • High melting and boiling points
  • Conductors
  • Insulators

Section 1 of 6Choosing a material

  • Rule
    • a material is chosen for its properties, and the property is linked to the job
  • Strength
    • resists being pulled apart or squashed: steel in a bridge
  • Hardness
    • resists scratching: diamond in a drill tip
  • Density
    • mass in a given volume: aluminium in aircraft, strong for its mass
  • Conductivity
    • copper in wires; plastic around them as an insulator
  • Flexibility and brittleness
    • rubber bends and returns; glass breaks

Section 2 of 6Metals and non-metals compared

PropertyMetalsNon-metals
State at room temperatureMost are solidMany are gases
AppearanceShinyDull
StrengthDo not shatterBrittle when solid
Heat conductionConduct heat wellDo not conduct heat well
Electrical conductionConduct electricityMost do not conduct
SoundSonorousNot sonorous
ShapingMalleable and ductileNot malleable or ductile

Section 3 of 6Properties of metals

  • Strong and tough
    • they do not shatter when dropped and hold large weights
  • Shiny
    • when freshly cut or polished
  • Malleable = can be hammered or bent into shape
  • Ductile = can be drawn out into wires
  • Sonorous = make a ringing sound when hit
  • High melting and boiling points
    • mercury is the only metal that is liquid at room temperature
  • Conductors
    • good conductors of heat and electricity
  • Magnetic
    • iron, steel, nickel and cobalt are magnetic

Section 4 of 6Properties of non-metals

  • Dull
    • non-metals do not reflect light well
  • Brittle
    • solid non-metals may shatter if dropped
  • Insulators
    • most do not conduct heat or electricity, so they make handles for pans and covers for plugs and cables
  • Low melting and boiling points
    • many non-metals are gases, and the rest have low melting and boiling points
  • Not hardwearing
    • they wear away more easily than metals

Section 5 of 6Graphite

  • Exception
    • graphite is a non-metal that conducts electricity

Section 6 of 6Selecting a material

  1. Decide what the object must do.
  2. List the properties needed.
  3. Test materials for those properties.
  4. Choose the best, considering cost and safety.
  • Several materials
    • one object can use different materials, e.g. a metal pan with a plastic handle

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