2.27C: Explain Why Alloys are Harder than Pure Metals

ALLOY: A Mixture of a Metal and one or more Elements - usually Other Metals or Carbon

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WHY ALLOYS ARE HARDER THAN PURE METALS:

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Diagram:

                            

Diagram Showing the Layers of Atoms in an Alloy

• Alloys are harder than Pure Metals as they contain atoms of different sizes which distort the regular arrangement of atoms
• Therefore, it is difficult for layers to slide over each other, making it harder and stronger than Pure Metal (atoms in Pure Metal are of the same size in regular arrangement so can easily slide over each other)