Stainless steel

High school (ages 12+)
Science & Technology

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/stainless-steel

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. Who discovered Stainless steel?1913
2. What is the primary alloying element?Chromium (minimum 10.5%)
3. What is the corrosion resistance mechanism?Formation and self-healing of a passive chromium oxide film
4. What makes stainless steel not rust?Stainless steel has at least 10.5% chromium, which reacts with oxygen to form a thin, protective layer of chromium oxide on its surface. This layer stays stuck to the metal and stops rust from forming.
5. Why is stainless steel used in kitchen spoons and cookware?Its surface does not react with food, so it stays clean and safe. It is easy to wash and keeps food from getting contaminated.

Metallurgy: The science and technology of metals, including their properties and production.
Electrochemical Potential: A measure of how easily a substance loses or gains electrons in an electrochemical reaction.
Biocompatibility: The ability of a material to perform with an appropriate host response in a specific application.