Question

Bell metal is an alloy of:
A. Sn and Pb
B. Cu and Pb
C. Sn and Cu
D. Fe, Sn and Cu

Answer 1

Hint: An alloy is a combination of metals combined with one or more other elements. As the name suggests, this alloy is used in manufacturing bells. Now, try to recollect what metals are used in this alloy from the given options.

Complete answer:
Let us see what Bell metal is, Bell metal is a hard alloy used for making bells and related instruments, such as cymbals. It is a form of bronze with a higher tin content, usually in approximately a 4:1 ratio of copper to tin (typically, 78% copper, 22% tin by mass).
Bronze is an alloy consisting primarily of copper, commonly with about 12–12.5% tin and often with the addition of other metals (such as aluminium, manganese, nickel or zinc) and sometimes nonmetals or metalloids such as arsenic, phosphorus or silicon.

Bell Bronze is the purest type of bronze in the bronze family. Not only is the copper content higher than traditional bronze itself (traditional bronze is 80% copper, 20% tin), there is no contamination from other metals in the alloy. Iron is ductile and moderately good conductor of heat and electricity and is relatively soft metal. So even iron cannot be used. Lead is soft and malleable and also has a low melting point.

Therefore, Sn and Cu are the metals used for manufacturing of bells.

Note: This alloy is used in bells as it has a pleasing sound quality when struck. Khansa is the Indian name for Bell metal alloy.