| METALS |
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Properties
of 6 common metals |
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Metal
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Aluminium Alloy
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Copper
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Brass
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Silver
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Mild Steel
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Carbon Steel
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Colour
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Silver
White
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Pinkish
Brown
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Yellow
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Bright
Silver
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Silver
Grey
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Dark
Grey
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Type
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Non
Ferrous
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Non
Ferrous
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Non
Ferrous
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Non
Ferrous
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Ferrous
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Ferrous
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Composition
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Aluminium
+ traces
of copper, magnesium, manganese for hardness
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Virtually
pure copper
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Alloy
of copper
and 35% zinc
(gilding metal
15% zinc)
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Silver
+ 7.5% copper
for hardness
(sterling silver)
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Iron
+ 0.15 - 0.35% carbon
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Iron
+ 0.35 - 1.15% carbon
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Source
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Bauxite
mined in Africa, Australia & USA
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Copper,
zinc and ore mined in North & South America, Africa
& Russia
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Mined
in North
& South America
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Iron
ore mined in Sweden, USA and Russia
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Extraction
& Processing
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Electrolysis
of
aluminium oxide
produced from bauxite
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Smelting
of ore and electrolysis
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Smelting
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Iron
produced in a blast furnace is made into steel in a basic
oxygen furnace or electric-arc furnace
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Commercial
Uses
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Car
engine castings & extruded window frames
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Plumbing
&
electrical wiring
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Locks
and
water taps
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Jewellery
and
specialist
electrical wiring
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Car
bodies and major structures
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Tools
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Disposal
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RC
- Commercially
recyclable
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RC
+ RU - recyclable
& reusable
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RC
- Commercially recyclable
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RC
+ RU -
recyclable
& reusable
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RC
+ RU -
recyclable
& reusable |
RC
- Commercially recyclable |
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Durability
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Tarnishes
quickly,
corrodes slowly
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Tarnishes
slowly,
corrodes very slowly
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Tarnishes
slowly,
corrodes very
slowly
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Tarnishes
slowly,
corrodes very
slowly
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Tarnishes
quickly, corrodes quickly
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Tarnishes
quickly, corrodes slowly
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Melting
Point
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700
- 750c
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1080c
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950
- 1000c
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960c
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1300
- 1500c
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1200
- 1400c
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Hardness
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*
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**
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*** |
** |
*** |
***** |
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Strength
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*
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**
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*** |
** |
**** |
**** |
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Density
(how
heavy it is)
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*
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****
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**** |
***** |
***** |
***** |
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Malleability
(how
easy it is to shape)
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**
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***
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*** |
***** |
* |
* |
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Electrical
conductivity
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****
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****
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*** |
***** |
* |
* |
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