C1.20a Sorting the properties of metals Cut out these cards and sort them into two groups – those that belong to metals and those that belong to non-metals. Some may not belong to either.
Electrical insulator
Thermal (heat) insulator
Dull
Electrical conductor
Thermal (heat) conductor
Magnetic
High melting point
Shiny (when polished)
Low density
Soft
Low melting point
High density
Hard
Strong
Brittle (breaks easily)
Malleable (can be hammered into shape)
Flexible (bends easily)
Ductile (can be stretched into wires)
Metals
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Non-metals
C1.20b Electrical conductivity Name
Class
Date
Some substances conduct electricity. In the first part of this practical you will test some materials to see which conduct electricity. In the second part you will compare the electrical conductivity of some metals.
Apparatus
Health and safety
power supply
ammeter
●
Use a low voltage
wires
materials to test
●
crocodile clips
metal wires to test
Do not touch the materials when they are connected into the circuit
light bulb
Method Testing for electrical conductivity A Set up a simple circuit with the power supply (2 volts) and a light bulb so that you can test a range of materials to see if they conduct electricity. B Record whether each material conducts in a suitable table. Comparing electrical conductivity C Set up a simple circuit with the power supply (4 volts) like the one below.
power pack 4 volts
ammeter
crocodile clips
hold wire between these
D Measure the current through 50 cm lengths of wire of different metals. Record the results in a suitable table.
Recording your results 1
Record your results from both experiments in suitable tables.
Considering your results/conclusions 2
In the first experiment, which materials conducted electricity?
3
Rank the metals in order of electrical conductivity.
4
How was the second experiment made to be a fair test?
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C1.20c Matching properties and uses of metals The shaded cards show the properties of some different metals. 1
Cut out the cards and match the properties to the uses of these metals. Some lists of properties can be matched with more than one use.
2
Try to work out which metal each list of properties is describing.
Aircraft bodies
Jewellery
Car body
● Good electrical conductor ● Unreactive ● Soft and very malleable ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Good electrical conductor Strong Malleable Ductile Cheapest metal Excellent electrical conductor Very unreactive Very attractive Malleable Very expensive
Liquid in a thermometer
● Good electrical conductor ● Liquid at room temperature
Water pipes
● ● ● ● ●
Excellent electrical conductor Unreactive Malleable Ductile Expensive
Flashings on homes to keep rain out at joins between walls and roofs
● ● ● ●
Good electrical conductor Low density Strong Quite expensive
Electrical tilt switch that connects or disconnects a circuit as it is tilted
Electrical connections where excellent connections are needed (e.g. circuit boards, audio cables)
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Electrical cables
Ladder
C1.20d Physical properties of metals 1
Cut out the cards and match the properties with the statements that say what they mean.
Electrical conductor
Can be stretched into wire
Thermal conductor
The mass of 1 cm3 of the material is high
High melting point
Electric current will pass through the material
High density
A lot of energy is required to turn the solid into a liquid
Malleable
Can be hammered into shape
Ductile
Heat passes easily through the material
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C1.20e Physical properties of metals 2 The table below shows the physical properties of some metals.
Metal
1
Melting Symbol point (°C)
Density (g/cm3)
Electrical conductance (millions of siemens per metre)
aluminium
Al
660
2.7
40.8
copper
Cu
1083
8.9
64.1
gold
Au
1064
19.3
45.2
iron
Fe
1535
7.9
11.2
lead
Pb
327
11.3
5.2
mercury
Hg
−39
13.6
?
platinum
Pt
1769
21.4
10.2
silver
Ag
961
10.5
66.7
tungsten
W
3410
19.4
20.4
zinc
Zn
420
7.1
18.1
Which of the metals in the table: a has the highest density b has the lowest density c has the highest melting point d is the best electrical conductor e is not a solid at room temperature?
2
Use the data in the table to explain why: a aircraft bodies are made using a lot of aluminium b electrical cables are made from copper
3
Which of the metals in the table might be the best one to use in an electrical circuit that operates at temperatures over 1100 °C? Explain your answer.
Extra challenge 4
Looking at this data, is it true to say that the higher the melting point of a metal, the greater its density? Plot a graph or chart to help you to answer this question and explain your reasoning.
© Pearson Education 2010. Edexcel GCSE Science Activity Pack This document may have been altered from the original.