Question

What are alloys? List two properties of alloys.

Answer 1

Hint: It is important to understand how alloys are formed. Based on this you can define the type of bond present between the metals present in an alloy. Now you can state the properties by holding the bond formation and metals present in an alloy while stating the properties.

Complete Solution :
- An alloy can be defined as the combination of metals with one or more than one type of metals to form a different compound altogether. Since the bond formation takes place between two metals due to presence of unpaired electrons in their d subshell, the bond is termed as metallic bond.
- For example, the alloy red gold is made of the metals, gold and copper. Similarly, the combination of gold and silver gives the alloy, white gold.

Now, we will talk about the properties of alloys.
- First, alloys are considered to be harder, and stronger due to the mixture of elements.
- Second, alloys are corrosion-resistant, and less malleable in nature. This property can be reasoned by the increase in hardness of alloy metal. This does not allow the alloy to be easily beaten into sheets.
- Third, we can say that alloys are less ductile in nature.
In the last we can conclude that the alloys can exist in solid, or liquid solution form of elements.

Note: The alloys in which mercury is one of the constituent elements is called amalgam. Amalgam is commonly used in the field of dentistry. Dental amalgam consists of 50% mercury w/w and used as a dental filling to fill cavities caused by tooth decay.