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Alloys and its Uses-Definition, Characteristics, Types, Examples, Practice Problems, FAQs
One day, I started feeling irritation on my ring finger. When I went to the doctor, he told me I was suffering from copper allergy and asked me to remove the diamond ring which I was wearing on that finger. I started wondering why copper was present inside my diamond ring. I went to the jewelry store to know the constituent of the metals in the ring. The shopkeeper told me that “ my ring is made of rose gold, which consists of copper mixed with gold”.
He further added that 24- karat pure gold is too soft for setting a diamond, so to harden it, they use 14-karat and 18-karat gold with diamond. 14-karat and 18-karat gold consist of 14 and 18 parts of gold and ten parts of other metals respectively. Such a mixture of metals is called an alloy. Let's study alloys and their uses in our daily life.
Table of contents
- What is an Alloy?
- Characteristics of alloys
- Types of alloys and their uses
- Practice Problems
- Frequently Asked Questions-FAQs
What is an Alloy?
Alloys can be described as homogeneous solid solutions(when two solids are mixed such that they can’t be separated physically) in which the atoms of one metal are distributed randomly among the atoms of the other.
Characteristics of alloys
1. Alloys are tougher than the non-metals and metals they are formed off.
2. Alloys are more corrosion resistant than metals.
3. Show better conductivity than the constituent elements.
4. Alloys have lower melting points as compared to their constituent elements.
5. Tenacity of alloys is better than the metals. That is, they have higher resistance to deform or break down.
Types of alloys and their uses
1. Steel
It is an alloy of iron and carbon. It contains approximately 1% of carbon. Steel is used because of its robust, hard, and corrosion-resistant properties.
Uses: It is widely used in the construction of bridges, highways, airports, trains, skyscrapers, and other structures due to its low cost. It is also employed in the manufacture of major appliances, like washing machines, stoves, refrigerators, and dishwashers. as well as various construction materials, like steel beams, bars, pipes, etc.,
2. Stainless steel
It is an alloy of iron mixed with approximately 11% chromium. Chromium is used extensively in the manufacture of stainless steel. It provides stainless steel, its hardness and makes it robust. Corrosion resistance is improved, especially at high temperatures. Different quality of stainless steel can be prepared by varying the proportion of various metals like nickel, titanium, manganese, silicon, copper along with carbon.
Uses: Various kitchen accessories, cutlery(like knives, etc.), cookware are made of stainless steel.
3. Bronze
It is an alloy of copper(75 - 90 %) mixed with 10 - 25 % of tin along with small proportions of other metals like aluminum, manganese, zinc or nickel and nonmetals or metalloids like (arsenic, silicon, phosphorus). Because of its properties like ductility, lesser friction than other metals, high temperature resistance, high electrical and heat conductivity, lower melting point than iron, it has been used since ages.
Uses: It is used for making musical instruments, medals, sculptures,etc.
4. Brass
It is an alloy of copper ( 60 - 80 %) mixed with 20 - 40 % of zinc along with small proportions of other metals like aluminum, manganese, zinc or nickel and nonmetals or metalloids like (arsenic, silicon, phosphorus). Because of its properties like ductility, malleability, corrosion-resistant, high strength, and antibacterial properties, it finds use in a wide range of applications.
Uses: Brass is used in the manufacturing of decoration items, locks, zippers, gears, doorknobs, musical instruments, etc. It’s also used for plumbing purposes and electrical applications.
5. Amalgam
If one of the constituents of the alloy is mercury, it is said to be amalgam. Amalgams are formed when different metals, such as 
and others, are treated with mercury. 1. Dental amalgams (
or 
amalgams) are used to fill cavities in the mouth. 2. Mirrors are silvered using tin amalgam. 3. To reduce the reactivity of 
, a 
amalgam is used.
Given some alloys, along with their compositions and uses:
| Alloy | Composition | Uses |
| Solder |  |
Used to connect the metal workpieces permanently |
| Bell metal |  in the ratio of 4 :1 |
Used in making musical instruments like church bells also for making utensils |
| Alnico |
|
Powerful permanent magnet, used in air turbine generators, dynamos, speakers, electric guitar pickups |
| Sterling silver |  (92.5 %)   (7.5 %) |
Use to make cutlery, jewelry, musical instruments |
| Nichrome |  in small proportion) |
Used in ironing machines, water heaters, hair dryers and has wide applications as a heating element (heater). |
(in major proportion)
(8-12)% 
(15-26)%
(5-12)% + 
in small proportionsPractice problems
Q1. Bronze is an alloy of:
(A) Copper
(B) Carbon
(C) Lead
(D) None of the above
Answer: (A)
Solution: Bronze is an alloy of copper.
Q2. Which metal is the major constituent in brass?
(A) Copper
(B) Carbon
(C) Lead
(D) None of the above
Answer: (A)
Solution: Brass is an alloy of 
and 
.
Q3. Which element other than mercury is used for filling tooth cavities?
(A) Silver
(B) Gold
(C) Zinc
(D) Both (A) and (B)
Answer: (D)
Solution: Silver and gold being the least reactive are used to make amalgams for filling tooth cavities.
Q4. How is the composition of stainless steel different from steel?
Solution: Steel is an alloy of iron and carbon and on the other hand, stainless steel is an alloy of iron, with at least 10% of chromium along with other elements like 
Frequently Asked Questions-FAQs
Question 1. Why there is a need to make alloys?
Alloys are designed to develop unique qualities not found in their basic elements. An alloy's physical and chemical properties are quite different from those of its constituents.
Question 2. Why is amalgam used for filling tooth cavities?
A dental amalgam filling is made up of half liquid mercury and half a powdered alloy of silver, tin, and copper. The alloy mixture forms a bond with mercury to provide a strong, long-lasting, and firm filler. Mercury is a significant component of dental amalgam because of its unique qualities (it is a liquid at room temperature and combines effectively with the metal powder).
Question 3. What is the difference between bronze and brass?
| Bronze | Brass |
1. It is an alloy of  and  . |
1. It is an alloy of and . |
| 2. Brass is a lighter-colored metal with more yellow and gold tones. | 2. ronze has a more classic and friendly feel than brass because of its warmer, reddish colours. |
| 3. Bronze is less malleable. | 3. Brass is more malleable. |
| 4. More brittle than brass. | 4. Less brittle than bronze |
| 5. Slightly higher melting point than brass. | 6. Lower melting point than bronze. |
Question 4. How alloys are made?
There are different methods by which alloys are made.
1. Aluminum bronze is prepared by reduction. It is prepared by heating aluminum oxide and carbon in the presence of the required amount of Copper.
2. Compression is also one of the methods. To make the alloy, the needed metals are first transformed into thin sheets, then rolled together and hammered under high pressure. Alloy like solder (
) is prepared by this method.
3. Another method is simultaneous deposition. An electrolytic cell is filled with an aqueous solution of the component metals' salts, and an electric current is sent through it. To create the required alloy, the desired metals are concurrently deposited on the cathode. Brass, for example, is made by electrolysis of a and 
cyanide solution in 
.
Related topics
| Extraction of Crude Metal from concentrated Ore | Extraction of iron |
| Occurrence of Metals | Concentration of ores |
| Thermodynamical principle of metallurgy | Refining of metals from concentrated ores |
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