Metallurgy For Kids! Trivia Quiz

Answer: iron

This definition is from Wikipedia. There are other parts to the definition, such as the fact that metals are typically hard and many are malleable - they can be shaped by hammering. The definition of a metal is long and complicated.

Answer: inside rocks

Metals are part of the earth's crust, and most often found inside rocks and the lava from volcanoes. Sometimes meteorites contain metal.

Answer: iron

A blacksmith makes horseshoes and metal gates. He also makes hinges and door latches, although these days these are mostly made in factories.

Answer: wrought ironwork

Horseshoes and gates are made by hammering iron into shape because it can be altered as it is worked to ensure the exact measurements. Factories usually melt their metal and pour it into moulds. This kind of work is called "cast iron". A blacksmith will also twist iron, and sometimes work several layers into one. "Bent" and "pulled" are not normally used in this context to describe ironwork.

Answer: The Bronze Age

The oldest worked metals that have been found were made in the Bronze Age. Bronze is a mixture of copper and tin and was the first metal humans learned to use. Later they found iron and discovered it was much harder and more useful. This led to the Iron Age. Many museums show beautiful knives and jewelry of the Bronze and Iron Ages.

Answer: Heating

The rocks are heated until very hot, which is the first stage in the purification process. Other chemical reactions are involved along the way until finally the pure metal is allowed to run into moulds and when it cools, it is called an ingot.

Answer: They can have more useful properties than a single metal

Steel is an alloy of iron and carbon. It is much stronger than pure iron. There are many alloys and they can be made to suit a particular purpose by choosing the right proportions of each metal.

Answer: Gold leaf

To make gold leaf, the metal is carefully hammered out thinner and thinner until it is less than a millimetre thick. It is layered between tissue paper to be sold. Each leaf is applied to the surface with a small, soft brush.

Answer: Around 100

There are many metals. Rare ones are still being found. If you add in the alloys, allowing for the different proportions of their components, the number increases. The periodic table is the best place to start finding the best known ones.

Answer: False

Actually it can be done at home, although it is very expensive as a hobby and at one stage does require the heat from a blowtorch or kiln. This means that at that stage you need fire safety precautions and a friendly grown up as well. How do you do it? It is possible to buy something called "metal clay".

This is powdered metal, usually gold, silver or bronze, which is mixed into a clay-like substance. This can be worked into shapes for jewelry and then heated - which is where the blow torch comes in.

The clay burns away and the metal stays in place, cooling into the shape you have made. It then needs to be burnished or polished. If you are interested, look up silverclay on the internet. You will find out about all the materials and tools you need as well as detailed instructions.