Final answer:
Steel is a substitutional alloy formed from iron and additional elements like carbon, which change pure iron's metallic bonds. Adding carbon to iron to form steel results in increased strength, hardness, ductility, and corrosion resistance, making it suitable for construction and other uses.
Step-by-step explanation:
The following questions pertain to a pure sample of iron and a sample of steel, focusing on the changes in bonding and properties during the formation of steel. When steel is made, impurities in iron are removed, and elements such as carbon, manganese, chromium, and others are added to form an alloy. Steel is specifically a substitutional alloy, where the different atoms substitute for the iron atoms in the metal lattice.
In terms of bonding, some of the metallic bonds in pure iron become alloy bonds that involve the other elements in steel. When carbon is added to create steel, there are four primary property changes:
- Increased strength
- Enhanced hardness
- Improved ductility
- Greater resistance to corrosion
These changes enable steel to be widely utilized in many applications, including construction and the manufacture of various tools and appliances.