Steel wire containing iron and carbon is bent to make clips. The manufacturer reduces the carbon content of the steel.
Why does reducing the carbon content make the steel wire easier to bend?
There are fewer carbon atoms to distort the layers of iron atoms, so the layers slide more easily.
The iron atoms become smaller, so the layers of atoms pack together more closely.
The steel becomes a pure metal, so all of its atoms are now the same size.
The remaining carbon atoms form cross-links, so the layers can bend without breaking.
118 exam-style questions on AQA GCSE Chemistry 10.3 Using materials, covering 10.3.1 Corrosion and its prevention, 10.3.2 Alloys as useful materials, and 10.3.3 Ceramics, polymers and composites. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.