Uses of Common Metals — Extraction and Uses of Metals | IGCSE Chemistry | Examo

Uses of Common Metals — Extraction and Uses of Metals | IGCSE Chemistry | Examo

Exam Frequency Analysis

Past paper frequency (2018 to 2024)

This topic accounts for approximately 6% of your exam marks.

stable

Low

Stable6%

Blast furnace chemistry and electrolytic extraction of aluminium regularly examined.

Aluminium

Use	Property that matters
Aircraft and high-speed train bodies	Low density; high strength-to-weight ratio
Saucepans and cookware	Good thermal conductor; unreactive with most foods
Overhead power cables	Good electrical conductor; lighter than copper
Drink cans and food containers	Non-toxic; resists corrosion thanks to its surface oxide layer

Copper

Use	Property that matters
Electrical wiring inside houses and devices	Excellent electrical conductor; ductile (draws into wires)
Plumbing pipes and tanks	Unreactive with water; malleable so easy to bend; non-toxic
Heat exchangers and base layers of cookware	Excellent thermal conductor

Iron and steel

Pure iron is too soft and corrodes too easily for most engineering uses; almost all iron is converted into steel, an alloy of iron with a controlled amount of carbon and sometimes other metals
Iron itself is used as a heterogeneous catalyst in the industrial Haber process for ammonia and in some other large-scale reactions

Type of steel	Composition	Typical use	Why this composition
Mild steel	Iron + about 0.25% carbon	Car body panels, nails, wiring	Soft, malleable, easy to press and shape
High-carbon steel	Iron + 0.5–1.4% carbon	Cutting tools, drill bits, chisels	Hard, holds a sharp edge
Stainless steel	Iron + about 18% chromium + 8% nickel	Cutlery, sinks, chemical plant	Strong; chromium oxide layer prevents corrosion