steel
Carbon strongly affects steel properties. This topic is part of Materials within Science & Nature. This page currently draws on 34 supporting questions, with answers and bonus facts available below.
steel trivia questions
Steel is mainly an alloy of iron and what?
Answer: Carbon
Bonus fact: Carbon strongly affects steel properties.
What element is added to many stainless steels to improve corrosion resistance?
Answer: Chromium
Bonus fact: Chromium forms a protective oxide layer.
Why is steel stronger than pure iron in many uses?
Answer: Alloying disrupts crystal movement
Bonus fact: Carbon and other elements hinder dislocation motion.
What is the name of the process in which a blacksmith rapidly cools hot steel to harden it?
Answer: Quenching
Bonus fact: Quenching can harden steel by rapidly cooling it in water, oil, or another medium.
Why is steel often embedded inside concrete?
Answer: To improve tensile strength
Bonus fact: Concrete is strong in compression, while steel reinforcement helps it resist tension.
Nickel is commonly added to steel to improve properties such as corrosion resistance and what?
Answer: Toughness
Bonus fact: Nickel is important in many stainless and alloy steels.
Steel-cut oats differ from rolled oats because they are what?
Answer: Chopped rather than flattened
Bonus fact: Steel-cut oats are groats cut into pieces.
Zinc is commonly used to coat iron or steel to prevent what?
Answer: Rust
Bonus fact: Galvanizing protects steel from corrosion.
What is the process of coating steel with zinc called?
Answer: Galvanization
Bonus fact: Zinc acts as a protective sacrificial coating.
What metalworking term is named after Damascus and refers to distinctive patterned steel?
Answer: Damascus steel
Bonus fact: Damascus steel became famous for patterned blades.
Why can sacrificial zinc protect steel from corrosion?
Answer: Zinc oxidizes preferentially
Bonus fact: Galvanic protection makes zinc the sacrificial metal.
Which element is alloyed with iron to make ordinary steel?
Answer: Carbon
Bonus fact: Small amounts of carbon greatly change iron's strength.