Video Transcript
Which of the following alloys does
not contain copper? (1) Steel, (2) brass, (3)
duralumin, (4) solder, (5) bronze.
We should define the term alloy
because we need to identify which of the listed alloys does not contain copper. An alloy is defined as a metallic
solid solution that contains at least two different types of elements. The alloy is a solid substance at
room temperature and has two or more different chemical elements. One of the elements is a metal
element, and the other is a metal or nonmetal substance. The alloy has an irregular
arrangement of particles. Some say it resembles the
organization of particles in a liquid solution.
We should now talk about the
properties and composition of the listed alloys to determine the one that does not
contain copper.
Let us start with number (1),
steel. There are many different types of
steel, and builders use them to make the structural support components of most
buildings and transportation vehicles. It is a mechanically strong
material and consists of iron with carbon. Some steel also has manganese and
small amounts of other elements such as chromium, silicon, phosphorus, sulfur, and
oxygen.
Brass is another alloy, and it has
an aesthetically pleasing yellow color. Craftspeople press this yellow
alloy into musical instruments, such as the tuba or trumpet. Let us note that brass contains
copper and zinc.
Duralumin is an incredibly light
and mechanically strong material because of its composition making it useful in
trucks for wheels, frames, and suspension. It ordinarily has a large amount of
aluminum metal and a relatively small amount of copper. It can also contain a small
percentage of other pure elements, such as 0.3 to 0.9 percent manganese or 1.2 to
1.8 percent magnesium.
Let us consider solder, and then we
can talk about bronze. Solder is a fusible metal alloy
used as a bonding agent between metal workpieces. Lead-free solders in commercial use
can contain tin, copper, silver, bismuth, indium, zinc, antimony, and traces of
other metals.
Bronze is the last alloy we need to
discuss before we can end this question video. Bronze is fascinating because it’s
supposed to be the first alloy ever discovered. We should note that bronze is
mechanically strong and inductile since it contains copper and other metals such as
tin or arsenic. It is the primary component of some
automotive vehicle components because it has an unusually low friction
parameter.
We have talked about the
composition of the listed alloys and can now determine that option (1) must be the
answer. Steel is the only listed alloy that
does not contain copper. Therefore, steel is the correct
answer.
