If everything is made of atoms, why is steel stronger than paper?

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If everything is made of atoms, why is steel stronger than paper?

In: Chemistry

Anonymous 0 Comments

The strength of a material comes from the bonds between the atoms and molecules.

In the case of paper, it is made of a fairly loose collection of plant fibers, randomly arranged into a sheet. They are bound together by being tangled up, not by any chemical means.

Steel and other metals, on the other hand, form crystals. In a crystal, the atoms essentially share their electrons and form a strong bonded mass. Those shared electrons are also why metals are such a good conductor.