Date: ________
INTRODUCTION
Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc. Small amount of iron and lead are
also present. This dissolves in 50% nitric acid and generates the ions of
the constituting metals in solutions. Presence of these ions in the
solution can be confirmed by qualitative inorganic analysis scheme.
An alloy is a homogeneous mixture of two or more metals or metals
and non-metals. In other words a solid solution of two or more metals
or a metal and a non-metal. It is prepared by first melting the main
metal, and then, dissolving the other elements in it in a definite
proportion. It is then cooled to the room temperature. If one of the
metals is mercury, then the alloy is known as amalgam. The electrical
conductivity of an alloy is less than that of pure metals.
Date: ________
More than ten thousands alloys have been prepared so far and about
hundred of them are in common use, for example, stainless steel, brass,
bronze, duralumin, soldering metal, gun metal, etc. So large numbers of
alloys have been prepared because the properties of the parent metals
constituting the alloy are modified a lot by alloy formation. For
example, pure copper metal is soft and ductile, but when it is alloyed
with small amount of zinc, becomes hard.
Cu(s)+8HNO,→3Cu(NO3)2(aq)+4H2O(1)+2NO(g)
Zn(s)+8HNO33Zn(NO3)2(aq)+4H2O(1)+2NO(g)
Thus, alloys are made to improve the following properties of metals:
• For increasing hardness
• For increasing tensile strength
• For increasing chemical resistance
• For lowering melting point
• For modifying colour
Date: ________
Alloys are prepared from the metals generally by fusion technique. That
is, metals are converted first to molten state, mixed well and then
allowed to solidify again. A number of methods, instrumental as well as
chemical, are known for finding out the constituents of an alloy. In
chemical method, first a solution of the alloy is being prepared, and
then presence of various constituents can be tested either by applying
spot test i.e., making use of different organic reagents or by applying.
regular qualitative inorganic analysis scheme