Alloys

An alloy is defined as a mixture of a metal with at least one other element. The
element(s) added can be either a metal or a non-metal.

4 Main Reasons Why Metals are used as Alloys:

 To make metals stronger and harder

 To make metals more resistant to corrosion
 To improve the appearance of metals
 To lower the melting points of metals

1) To make metals stronger and harder:

The most common question that students will be asked in their Chemistry tests and
examinations is how does alloying increase the strength and hardness of a pure metal.

First of all, in an alloy, the auutoms of the main metal and the element(s) added have
different sizes. This disrupts the regular arrangement of the atoms in the pure metal.
Atoms of different sizes cannot slide past each other easily when a force is applied. As
such, an alloy is stronger, harder and less malleable than the pure metal itself.

In pure metals, same size atoms are packed together in a regular arrangement.
 Atoms of different sizes disrupt the regular arrangement in pure metals
Students would need to know the following examples of alloys:

 Brass = Copper + Zinc

 Bronze = Copper + Tin
 Steel = Iron + Carbon
 Stainless Steel = Iron + Carbon + Nickel + Chromium

2) To make metals more resistant to corrosion:

Coins that we used in our everyday lives are made of cupronickel, which is an alloy of
copper and nickel. It does not corrode easily.

3) To improve the appearance of of metals:

Pewter is an alloy of tin, antimony and copper. It is commonly used to make ornaments
such as key chains and decorative displays because it looks more beautiful than pure
tin itself.

4) To lower the melting points of metals:

The main method used in the industry to join two metal parts together is through the use
of soldering. The solder material is usually an alloy of tin and lead, and it has a lower
melting point than most metals.

Soldering mean:

Soldering is a joining process used to join different types of metals together by
melting solder. Solder is a metal alloy usually made of tin and lead which is melted
using a hot iron.
List of Alloys and Their Composition and Uses:

Name of
Composition of Alloy Uses of Alloy in Daily Life
Alloy

Doorknobs, plumbing, musical

Brass 34% zinc + 66% copper instruments, electronics, tools,
boats, decorative items, etc.

83% copper + 12% tin + 5%

Marine fittings and fixtures, electrical
Bronze Miscellaneous metals
connectors, medals, bells, etc.
(manganese, aluminum,etc.)

Stainless 82% iron + 18% chromium and Utensils, surgical instruments,

steel Nickle watches, construction, etc.

Coin Metal 75% copper + 25% Nickle Making of coins

Solder
50% tin + 50% lead Electrical wires, etc.
Metal

Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc. Copper is a very good electron donor, therefore a
very good conductor of electricity - that’s one of the main reasons it’s used in wire (the
other being its high ductility.) Brass isn’t used in wire, because it’s not as ductile as pure
copper - but it’s just about as conductive as pure copper, I’m sure. It could likely be
used where a rigid conductor is desired (Buss bars, for instance.

They disrupt the regular arrangement of ions and make it more difficult for the layers
to slide over each other. This makes the alloy harder and
less malleable and ductile than the pure metal (in which the layers slip over each
other more easily).

Prepared By: M.Zuhair Chemist

O’Level Chemistry

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