Title: The effect of heat on metals.

Introduction/Theory: Modifying a metal using heat may make the neatness of

rows of atoms in a metal be disrupted. There are three main ways of doing this:
Annealed, Quenched and Tempered. Annealed metals are heated until they are
red hot and then cooled slowly. Quenched metals are heated until they are red
hot and then allowed to cool quickly in cold water. Tempered metals are
produced when quenched metals are warmed again to a lower temperature and
then allowed to cool slowly. Quenching, annealing and tempering alter the
properties of a metal because there processes dispute the metal lattice. [1]
Aim: the aim of this practical is to investigate the malleability of quenched,
tempered and annealed metals.
Materials/ Apparatus:
-

3 steel needles (e.g. sewing needles) or 3 equal lengths of steel

wire.
Bunsen burner and heatproof mat
2 pairs of tongs
500 ml container of iced water
Safety glasses

Methods:

1. The first steel needle was bent as far as it could. Its malleability and
strength were noted.
2. Tongs were used to heat the second steel needle until it was red hot.
3. The needle was immediately immersed in the iced water.
4. The second needle was bent as far as it could. Its malleability and strength
were noted.
5. The third steel needle was heated until it was red hot.
6. The third needle was cooled down slowly.
7. The needle was bent as for as it could. Its malleability and strength were
noted.
8. The fourth needle was then heated until red hot and immersed in cold
water.
9. When the fourth needle had cooled down, it was again heated slowly. Its
malleability and strength were noted.
-

Results:

P
r
o
p
e
r
ti
e
s
/
M
a
ll
e
a
b
il
it
y

A
N
N
E
A
L
E
D
E
a
s
y
to
b
e
n
d
a
n
d
c
h
a
n
g
e
s
h
a
p
e.

Q
u
e
n
c
h
e
d
T
h
e
m
et
al
s
b
e
c
a
m
e
h
ar
d
er
b
ut
m
or
e
br
it
tl

T
e
m
p
e
r
e
d
T
h
e
m
et
al
w
a
s
n
ot
a
s
br
itt
le
a
n
d
re
ta
in
e
d
it

e.

s
h
ar
d
n
e
ss
.

Discussion:

Limitation:

The limitations of this practical is that when burning the bobby

pins there is a high chance of burning the plastic tip that
surrounds the tip of it instead. The temperature of the cold water
may also effect results too.

Safety Requirements:

Laboratory coats were worn at all times to prevent clothes being ruined
from Bunsen burner or samples during the practical.
Hair was tied back to insure safeness that it would not be burnt by Bunsen
burning throughout practical.
Gloves were worn thought the whole practical to prevent harm or danger
from the samples in which were handled.
-

Questions:

1. What is the effect of quenching a metal?

- Quenching results in the formation of smaller crystals, which
makes the metal harder but more brittle.
2. What is the effect of tempering a metal?
- Tempering a metal reduces the brittleness of the metal while
retaining the hardness.
3. Why have the properties of the metal changed?
- Quenching, annealing and tempering alter the properties of a
metal because these processes disrupt the metal lattice.
-

Conclusion:

The effects of heat on metal was observed in this practical, this

was due to the neatness of rows of atoms in a metal being
disrupted. This practical displayed that there was three types of
ways of changing the malleability of a metal; Annealed,
Quenched and Tempered. These ways of modifying metals were
observed and it was concluded that it was supported that these
three modifying techniques do change the malleability of metals
and disturbed the metal lattice.

References:

[1]. JacPlus Chemistry Units 1 & 2 Textbook.