International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) Chemistry Practice Exam

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Which of the following properties makes aluminum particularly useful for power cables?

  1. Strong and heavy

  2. Ductile and conducts electricity

  3. Corrosion-resistant and low melting point

  4. Malleable and dense

The correct answer is: Ductile and conducts electricity

Aluminum is particularly useful for power cables primarily because it is ductile and conducts electricity effectively. Ductility allows aluminum to be drawn into thin wires without breaking, which is essential for the manufacturing of power cables that need to be flexible and able to bend easily during installation. Additionally, aluminum's excellent electrical conductivity, while not as high as copper, is more than sufficient for many electrical applications, making it a cost-effective choice for transmitting electricity. Its relatively low weight compared to other conductive metals, such as copper, is also advantageous since lighter cables are easier to handle and reduce the load on supporting structures. While other properties of aluminum, such as corrosion resistance, are beneficial in specific applications, they do not specifically contribute to its choice for electrical wiring like ductility and conductivity do.

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