Properties of Iron and Steels

Exam tip; You DO need to know the 3 main types of steel (carbon,
low-alloy & high-alloy) & identify what they contain
GCSE Core Chemistry
Prior Learning:
Identify & explain different extraction processes
Keywords:
Alloy, carbon steels, low-alloy steels, high-alloy
steels
GCSE Core Chemistry
Learning Objectives:
By the end of the lesson I can:
The properties of pig iron and how this limits its usefulness.
Pig iron is the intermediate product of smelting iron ore with
coke. Pig iron has a very high carbon content, typically 3.5
4.5%, which makes it very brittle and not useful directly as a
material except for limited applications.
That iron can be alloyed to make it more useful.
Explain how the properties of alloys (but not smart alloys)
are related to models of their structures.
GCSE Core Chemistry
What are the properties of different metals?
GCSE Core Chemistry
gold (Au): This metal is unreactive. This is represented by

having the band on stage, not mixing with the other elements
and not doing very much.
lead (Pb), zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu): These metals are heavy
metals and are dressed up as heavy metal rockers.
copper (Cu): This metal has been drawn into wires.
aluminium (Al) and titanium (Ti): These metals are reactive.
In this scene, they are getting overexcited and knocking over a
table.
iron (Fe): This metal has rust patches and is struggling to lift
the bar stools.
steel (Fe wearing nerves of steel T shirts): These metal
alloys have carbon atoms on their shoulders to show that they
are alloys. The steel is shinier than the iron atom. Steel is easily
lifting the bar stools that iron was unable to lift because it is
stronger.
GCSE Core Chemistry
Lets go back in time 3 years to

Year 7
Now add
a
YEAR 10
different
sized particle
to your
model. What
is this
called?
YEAR 7
And draw (or

make a
model to
show) the
atom
arrangement
in a solid
GCSE Core Chemistry
What are the general properties of most metals?

solid at room temperature
high melting point

good conductors of electricity and heat
malleable: they can be shaped
ductile: they can be drawn into wires
strong
dense
Why do metals have these particular properties?
GCSE Core Chemistry
The atoms in a pure metal are in

tightly-packed layers, which form
a regular lattice structure.
sea of electrons
The outer electrons of the metal

atoms separate from the atoms
and create a sea of electrons.
These electrons are delocalized
and so are free to move through
the whole structure.
The metal atoms become positively
charged ions and are attracted to
the sea of electrons. This attraction
is called metallic bonding.
metal ions
GCSE Core Chemistry
How does the sea of electrons affect the properties of metals?
GCSE Core Chemistry
Delocalized electrons in metallic bonding allow metals to

conduct heat and electricity.
For example, when a metal is
heated, the delocalized electrons
gain kinetic energy.
These electrons then move faster
and so transfer the gained energy
throughout the metal.
This makes heat transfer in
metals very efficient.
Delocalized electrons also

conduct electricity through
metals in a similar way.
heat
GCSE Core Chemistry
Metals are usually strong, not brittle. When a metal is hit,

the layers of metal ions are able to slide over each other,
and so the structure does not shatter.
metal before it is hit
metal after it is hit
force
force
The metallic bonds do not break because the delocalized

electrons are free to move throughout the structure.
This also explains why metals are malleable (easy to shape) and
ductile (can be drawn into wires).
GCSE Core Chemistry
GCSE Core Chemistry
Investigating Alloys
How would you investigate the strength of alloy
wires?
What will you change? (The independent variable)
What will you measure? (The dependent variable)
How would you make it a fair test? (Controlled
variables)
GCSE Core Chemistry
On a plain piece of paper add information

from the following slides to create a mind
map on iron including;
Alloying
Extraction
Properties
Chemical information
(Anything else you wish to include)
GCSE Core Chemistry
The iron collected from a blast furnace is only

96% pure.
Usually, this product will be treated

further because the impurities make
iron brittle.
raw materials
Removing all impurities would

produce pure iron. Pure iron has a
regular arrangement of atoms, with
layers that can slide over each
other, and so is soft and easily
shaped, but too soft for many uses.
Most iron is converted into
steels.
hot air
molten
iron
molten
slag
GCSE Core Chemistry
Steel is an alloy of iron and other elements, including carbon,

nickel and chromium.
Steel is stronger than pure iron and can be used for
to suspension bridges!
everything from sauce pans
GCSE Core Chemistry
The atoms in pure iron are arranged

in densely-packed layers. These
layers can slide over each other. This
makes pure iron a very soft material.
The atoms of other elements are

different sizes. When other elements
are added to iron, their atoms distort
the regular structure of the iron atoms.
It is more difficult for the layers of iron
atoms in steel to slide over each other
and so this alloy is stronger than pure
iron.
GCSE Core Chemistry
OVERVIEW - Steel
Steels are alloys, since they are mixtures of
iron with carbon and other metals. The
different sized atoms distort the layers in
the structure of the pure metal, making it
more difficult for them to slide over each
other, and so alloys are harder. Alloys can
be designed to have properties for specific
uses. Low carbon steels are easily shaped,
high carbon steels are hard, and stainless
steels are resistant to corrosion.
GCSE Core Chemistry
Steel is not a single substance & there are lots

of different steels all being an alloy of iron with
either carbon and/or other elements.
1. CARBON STEEL: made by alloying Fe
with small amounts of C (from 0.03-1.5%).
They are the cheapest to make & are used for
car bodies, knives, ships, machinery,
containers, structural steel for buildings.
low carbon steel contains less than 0.25% carbon
Soft and easily shaped. Not as strong as high carbon steel
but less likely to shatter.
high carbon steel contains more than 0.5% carbon.

Very strong but brittle.
GCSE Core Chemistry
2. LOW-ALLOY STEEL: made by

alloying Fe with small amounts of other
metals (from 1-5%). They are more
expensive & may contain metals like Ni,
Cr, Mn, V Ti and W. Each giving a
different property.
Nickel-steel very resistant to
stretching forces so are used for longspan bridges, military armour-plating
Tungsten-steel operates well under very hot conditions so
it is used to make high-speed tools.
GCSE Core Chemistry
3. HIGH-ALLOY STEEL: made by alloying

Fe with large amounts of other metals.
They are EVEN more expensive & may
contain metals like Ni, Cr, Mn, V Ti and W.
Each giving a different property.
Chromium-steel strong with

chemical stability it is mixed with
between 12-15% Cr and often some Ni
This is also known as stainless steel These are used to
make cooking utensils & cutlery, chemical reaction vessels
because they combine hardness & strength with a resistance to
corrosion (they do not rust!)
GCSE Core Chemistry
GCSE Core Chemistry
GCSE Core Chemistry
Refs Decision
If its true it stays, if its false SEND IT OFF!
Steel is a mixture
All steels contain cobalt (Co)
Stainless steels are expensive
Stainless steels rust because
they contain iron
The molecular formula for
steel is St
Yellow = TRUE, Blue = FALSE

GCSE Core Chemistry
Learning Objectives:
By the end of the lesson I can:
The properties of pig iron and how this limits its usefulness.
Pig iron is the intermediate product of smelting iron ore with
coke. Pig iron has a very high carbon content, typically 3.5
4.5%, which makes it very brittle and not useful directly as a
material except for limited applications.
That iron can be alloyed to make it more useful.
Explain how the properties of alloys (but not smart alloys)
are related to models of their structures.
GCSE Core Chemistry

Properties of Iron and Steels

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Exam tip; You DO need to know the 3 main types of steel (carbon,

low-alloy & high-alloy) & identify what they contain

GCSE Core Chemistry

GCSE Core Chemistry

What are the properties of different metals?

GCSE Core Chemistry

gold (Au): This metal is unreactive. This is represented by

Lets go back in time 3 years to

And draw (or

What are the general properties of most metals?

high melting point

GCSE Core Chemistry

The atoms in a pure metal are in

The outer electrons of the metal

GCSE Core Chemistry

How does the sea of electrons affect the properties of metals?

GCSE Core Chemistry

Delocalized electrons in metallic bonding allow metals to

Delocalized electrons also

GCSE Core Chemistry

Metals are usually strong, not brittle. When a metal is hit,

The metallic bonds do not break because the delocalized

GCSE Core Chemistry

On a plain piece of paper add information

The iron collected from a blast furnace is only

Usually, this product will be treated

Removing all impurities would

GCSE Core Chemistry

Steel is an alloy of iron and other elements, including carbon,

GCSE Core Chemistry

The atoms in pure iron are arranged

The atoms of other elements are

GCSE Core Chemistry

Steel is not a single substance & there are lots

high carbon steel contains more than 0.5% carbon.

GCSE Core Chemistry

2. LOW-ALLOY STEEL: made by

GCSE Core Chemistry

3. HIGH-ALLOY STEEL: made by alloying

Chromium-steel strong with

GCSE Core Chemistry

GCSE Core Chemistry

Yellow = TRUE, Blue = FALSE

GCSE Core Chemistry

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