Copper is a transition metal.
Describe the structure and bonding in a metal. You may include a diagram description in your answer.
Copper is malleable even though metallic bonds are strong. Explain why metals are malleable.
Copper can conduct electricity in the solid and liquid state. Explain why metals can conduct electricity.
An alloy is a mixture of a metal with one or more other elements. When copper is mixed with aluminium, it forms aluminium bronze, which is used for heavy-duty marine gear wheels. Adding different amounts of aluminium changes the properties of the alloy.
| Alloy | Percentage of aluminium (%) | Density (g/cm3\text{g/cm}^3g/cm3) | Melting point (∘C{}^\circ\text{C}∘C) | Strength (MPa\text{MPa}MPa) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | 7.50 | 7.80 | 1040 | 550 |
| Q | 9.00 | 7.65 | 1030 | 620 |
| R | 10.50 | 7.55 | 1015 | 680 |
A marine engineer thinks that alloy R is best for making heavy-duty gear wheels that must be lightweight and highly resistant to mechanical deformation. Is she correct? Explain your answer using evidence from the table.
The engineer uses a particle model to represent the elements present in alloy P. Look at her diagram:
Calculate the percentage of aluminium atoms in the diagram of alloy P.
Use your answer to part (c)(i) to explain if the diagram accurately shows the structure of alloy P.