Question

Misch metal is:
A) An alloy of lanthanide and copper
B) An alloy of lanthanide and nickel
C) An alloy of lanthanide, iron and carbon
D) An alloy of calcium and copper

Answer 1

Hint: Misch metal is an alloy. An alloy is a combination of metal with another metal. Alloys have a metallic bonding character. One of the elements of the Misch metal belongs to the f-block of the periodic table.

Complete step by step answer:
We know that Misch metal is an alloy. An alloy is a combination of metal with another metal. Alloys have a metallic bonding character. One of the elements of the Misch metal belongs to the f-block of the periodic table.
Misch metal is an alloy which is composed of rare earth elements along with other widely used metals.
One major constituent of Misch metal is lanthanum. The atomic number of lanthanum is 57. Lanthanum is the first element of the lanthanide series. Lanthanum is an inner transition element whose last electron enters the 4f orbital. It is radioactive in nature.
Misch metal also contains cerium and lanthanum along with other rare earth elements like neodymium, praseodymium and others in smaller amounts.
Misch metal was first extracted from monazite ore.
Misch metal was first produced by von Welsbach by fusing cerium, iron and carbon by the process of electrolysis. Misch metal is an alloy which is very hard in nature and thus, has high stability.
Thus, Misch metal is an alloy of lanthanide, iron and carbon.
Thus, the correct option is (C) lanthanide, iron and carbon.

 Note:Misch metal is not a normal alloy. One constituent of Misch metal has to be a rare earth metal, a lanthanide or an actinide. The composition of the rare earth metal is major in the Misch metal.