A designer must choose a material for a cover that protects a machine. The cover must be as light as possible and must not break if it is dropped. The table gives data for four materials.
Table: The density and the resistance to breaking when dropped of four materials considered for a machine cover
| Material | Density in g/cm3 | Breaks when dropped from 1 m |
|---|---|---|
| Soda-lime glass | 2.5 | Yes |
| Clay ceramic | 2.3 | Yes |
| Poly(propene) | 0.9 | No |
| Aluminium alloy | 2.7 | No |
Which material should the designer choose?
Soda-lime glass
Clay ceramic
Poly[propene]
Aluminium alloy
40 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.