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| Thread ID: 57000 | 2005-04-20 21:20:00 | A Chemistry Question | Renmoo (66) | PC World Chat |
| Post ID | Timestamp | Content | User | ||
| 347083 | 2005-04-20 21:20:00 | Greetings PressF1, I've now got to finish up my homework and I am stuck on 1 question: Why is copper used for electric wiring and also for the bottom of saucepans? The topic we are currently studying now is "Types of solids and forces of attraction" Cheers :) |
Renmoo (66) | ||
| 347084 | 2005-04-20 21:27:00 | Do you seriously not know the answer to that question? That is basic science... Since it is your homework and you are supposed to be finding out the answers to these things yourself (which is supposed to teach you how to do your own research, by the way), how about you do that research then come back and tell us what you found out and we can then have a nice little discussion? :) Not being smart by the way... just have to be cruel to be kind sometimes. ;) |
FoxyMX (5) | ||
| 347085 | 2005-04-20 21:30:00 | Coz it's a whiz bang good conductor of heat and electricity. Seriously dude, the osmosis question was fair game as it's reasonably complex. This is like day 1 google-fu. |
ninja (1671) | ||
| 347086 | 2005-04-20 21:56:00 | I understand that copper metal have delocalised electrons surrounding the positive ions of it and it is the free electrons that are responsible for heat-transfering and electric-conducting. I am now wondering what is the condition that makes copper different from other metal elements that makes it a good heat- and electric-conductor? I do know how to answer the other 9 question though, just stuck on this particular one. :p Thanks | Renmoo (66) | ||
| 347087 | 2005-04-20 22:13:00 | Copper has more free electrons than most other metals which makes it a better conductor of heat and electricity. Silver is the best conductor but it is also much more expensive and therefore less practical to use. Gold is not quite as good as copper and again, is much more expensive. | FoxyMX (5) | ||
| 347088 | 2005-04-20 22:20:00 | How about Aluminium? Each Aluminium atom has 3 free delocalised electrons. Copper can maximumly attain 2 free delocalised electrons. | Renmoo (66) | ||
| 347089 | 2005-04-20 22:44:00 | OK, well this is getting a bit heavier than my diminishing memory will allow as it is a few years now since I got UE chemistry and I don't have my books handy . :p Aluminium is still a good conductor of heat - it is next on the list after copper and gold but I *think* it is due to the increased density of copper that makes copper a better conductor . Have a look at this page ( . schoolscience . co . uk/content/5/physics/copper/copelech2pg1 . html" target="_blank">www . schoolscience . co . uk) for an explanation . Graham L may be able to provide a bit of help if he checks this thread out or maybe another chemistry buff can take over but I'm outta here now . :D Good luck! |
FoxyMX (5) | ||
| 347090 | 2005-04-20 23:06:00 | Aluminium is a good conductor of both heat and electricity, that is why it is used for saucepans, and high voltage cable (it is cheaper and lighter than copper), However it is a very reactive metal, (isn't it near to potassium and sodium in the periodic table? )so it always has an oxide layer on it's surface. You can't physically remove the oxide layer as it forms again very fast. Because it is so reactive except for the oxide layer aluminium powder is one constituent of "Thermite" an in-situ welding technique that was or is used on railway lines etc. For that reason it is difficult to bond aluminium to stainless steel, so they use copper, either as copper plate, or as a solid copper base to saucepans. Because aluminium oxidises so easily is why "anodised" finishes are used on it, both for decoration and for engineering purposes. |
Terry Porritt (14) | ||
| 347091 | 2005-04-20 23:13:00 | Aluminium is a good conductor of both heat and electricity, that is why it is used for saucepans Not any more it isn't. It has been replaced by stainless steel, not only because stainless steel is easier to care for but also because aluminium has been found to be bad for our health when used for cooking utensils. |
FoxyMX (5) | ||
| 347092 | 2005-04-21 01:32:00 | Not any more it isn't. It has been replaced by stainless steel, not only because stainless steel is easier to care for but also because aluminium has been found to be bad for our health when used for cooking utensils. Sorry, not true, an urban myth. Aluminium saucepans are widely made and sold. There was some scare at one time about a connection with Alzheimers, but nothing came of that. Acidic foods can leach aluminium, and taint the food a bit , but there is no evidence of ill health. Just put 'aluminium saucepans' into Google and see how many suppliers there are. |
Terry Porritt (14) | ||
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