# Duralumin is an alloy made mainly from aluminium with small amounts of copper and manganese. Explain why duralumin is more suitable than pure aluminium for use in aircraft construction.

> Cambridge International IGCSE Chemistry (0620) — 9.3 Alloys and their properties · Explain · 4 marks

## Mark scheme (4 marks)

1. Pure metals have atoms/ions of the same size arranged in regular layers
2. In an alloy, atoms of different sizes disrupt/distort the regular arrangement of layers
3. This prevents the layers from sliding over each other easily
4. So duralumin is harder/stronger than pure aluminium, making it more suitable for aircraft construction

## Key terms

- [alloy](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/alloy)

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