Pure iron is too soft for most uses, so it is alloyed with carbon and other elements to make steels.
Explain why steel is stronger than pure iron.
Stainless steel contains chromium. Give the property that chromium gives to stainless steel.
A bicycle designer compares four materials for the frame of a racing bicycle.
| Material | Density / g cm−3\mathrm{g\,cm^{-3}}gcm−3 | Strength / MPa | Resistance to corrosion | Cost per kg / £ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| mild steel | 7.8 | 400 | poor (rusts) | 1 |
| stainless steel | 8.0 | 600 | very good | 4 |
| aluminium alloy | 2.7 | 300 | good | 3 |
| titanium alloy | 4.5 | 900 | very good | 35 |
A frame needs 800 cm3\mathrm{cm^{3}}cm3 of metal. Calculate the difference in mass, in kg, between a frame made of mild steel and a frame made of aluminium alloy. Use the equation: mass=density×volume\text{mass} = \text{density} \times \text{volume}mass=density×volume.
Evaluate the four materials for making the frame of a racing bicycle. Use the data in the table.
42 exam-style questions on Edexcel GCSE Chemistry 6.1 Transition metals, alloys and corrosion, covering 6.1.1 Properties of transition metals, 6.1.2 Corrosion and its prevention, and 6.1.3 Alloys and the uses of metals. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.