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5 Gold is used to make some jewellery - Edexcel - GCSE Chemistry - Question 5 - 2013 - Paper 1
Question 5
5 Gold is used to make some jewellery. (a) Explain why gold is used to make jewellery. (b) Complete the sentence by putting a cross (✗) in the box next to your ans... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:5 Gold is used to make some jewellery - Edexcel - GCSE Chemistry - Question 5 - 2013 - Paper 1
Step 1
Explain why gold is used to make jewellery.
Answer
Gold is used to make jewellery primarily because it has desirable properties. Firstly, it does not corrode or tarnish, which means it retains its appearance over time. Additionally, gold is relatively unreactive, making it stable in various environmental conditions. Its shiny and lustrous finish makes it attractive, and it is also malleable, allowing it to be easily shaped into intricate designs. Furthermore, gold's value and rarity enhance its prestige as a material for jewellery.
Step 2
Step 3
Explain why gold alloys are stronger than gold.
Answer
Gold alloys are stronger than pure gold due to the addition of other metals, which introduces different sized atoms into the structure. When these metals are alloyed with gold, they prevent the gold atoms from sliding past each other easily due to the variations in atomic size. This disrupts the layers of gold atoms, making the overall structure more rigid and increasing its hardness. Furthermore, the presence of different metals such as copper or silver can impart additional strength and durability to the alloy.
Step 4
Explain, in terms of the position of the metal in the reactivity series and the cost of the extraction processes, why iron and aluminium are extracted by different methods.
Answer
Iron and aluminium are extracted from their ores using different methods due to their positions in the reactivity series. Aluminium is more reactive than iron, which means it cannot be reduced using carbon; instead, it must be extracted through electrolysis, a process that is more expensive and energy-intensive. In contrast, iron, which is less reactive, can be extracted by heating its oxide with carbon, a cheaper method. Thus, due to higher reactivity and the resulting costs associated with extraction, aluminium requires electrolysis, while iron can be extracted using the carbon reduction process.