Pg 1
Unit 10: Properties and Applications of Engineering Materials
TASK 1 –P1
Describe the structure (including atomic structure) associated with a given metal, polymer, ceramic,
composite and smart material.
What is an atom?
An atom is the smallest particle in a chemical element like Copper, 0xygen, Aluminium, etc.
What is an atomic structure?
An atomic structure of a central nucleus that is surrounded by one or more electrons. Electron is a
particle that have a negative charge, instead the nucleus has a positive charge and also contains
particles called protons with positive charge as well and also particles called neutrons that their
charge is neutral (0). The number of particles in an element can be calculated as the atomic number
of that element and the sum of particles can be instead calculated as the atomic weight of that
element.
COPPER
Copper is a metal, that has got high electric
conductivity and resistance on corrosion; that is
why is used in many electric equipment's and
also many engineering applications like: wiring,
motors cables, in manufacturing, plumbing, and
many others.
This is the atomic structure a copper. This chemical element is
recognised with the symbol Cu. There are 29 protons and electrons
(red colour/green colour) and 35 neutrons (blue colour), so with a
total atomic weight of 64 in its structure. The atomic number is
quale to the number of protons that is 29.