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In this question you will be assessed on using good English, organising information clearly and using specialist terms where appropriate - AQA - GCSE Chemistry - Question 2 - 2017 - Paper 1
Question 2
In this question you will be assessed on using good English, organising information clearly and using specialist terms where appropriate. Metals and thermosoftening... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:In this question you will be assessed on using good English, organising information clearly and using specialist terms where appropriate - AQA - GCSE Chemistry - Question 2 - 2017 - Paper 1
Step 1
Explain how the properties of a metal relate to its structure.
Answer
Metals exhibit properties such as:
- Shininess: Metals have a shiny appearance due to the presence of delocalised electrons that reflect light.
- Hardness and tensile strength: These properties arise from the strong metallic bonds between positively charged ions and delocalised electrons, which provide a rigid structure.
- High melting/boiling points: The strong bonds require significant energy to break, resulting in high melting and boiling points.
- Ductility and malleability: Metals can be bent and shaped because the layers of atoms can slide over each other without breaking the metallic bond, allowing for deformation.
- Electrical and thermal conductivity: Metals can conduct electricity and thermal energy due to the mobility of delocalised electrons.
Step 2
Explain how the properties of a thermosoftening polymer relate to its structure.
Answer
Thermosoftening polymers have distinct properties such as:
- Flexibility: The chains in thermosoftening polymers are not tightly linked, allowing them to move past one another, making the material flexible.
- Low melting/boiling points: These polymers have weaker intermolecular forces (such as Van der Waals forces), which require less energy to overcome compared to the strong bonds in metals.
- Ability to be shaped/moulded: Since thermosoftening polymers do not have cross-links, they can be remoulded when heated. This property makes them suitable for various applications such as packaging and containers.
Step 3
Linking statement between the properties and structures of metals and thermosoftening polymers.
Answer
In summary, the strong metallic bonds in metals result in properties such as high melting points, hardness, and electrical conductivity, while the flexible nature and low melting points of thermosoftening polymers arise from their loosely organized chains and weak intermolecular forces.