Mixing Metals: Alloys
Match each alloy to what is inside it.
What this lesson covers
Why it matters
Pure iron is surprisingly soft and rusts fast. But mix in a pinch of carbon and you get steel — strong enough to hold up bridges. Mixing metals gives them superpowers.
Predict first
An alloy such as steel is best described as what?
An alloy is a mixture of a metal with one or more other metals or non-metals. Steel, for example, is iron mixed with a little carbon.
- A brand-new single element
- A mixture of a metal with other metals or non-metals — correct
- A pure metal with nothing added
- A type of acid
What you do
Match each clue to the correct alloy. Sort the descriptions into the right bin.
Check yourself
What exactly is an alloy?
An alloy is a mixture made by combining a metal with one or more other metals or non-metals — for example brass is copper mixed with zinc.
Why do we make alloys instead of using the pure metal?
Alloying usually makes a metal stronger, harder or more resistant to corrosion. That is why steel (an alloy) is used instead of soft, easily rusted pure iron.
Which alloy is specially made to resist rusting?
Stainless steel is an alloy of iron with chromium and nickel added. These make it resist rusting, so it is used for cutlery, sinks and surgical tools.
- A mixture of a metal with other metals or non-metals — correct
- A single pure element
- A metal that has completely rusted away
- A liquid metal at room temperature
- Alloys are usually stronger and more useful than the pure metal — correct
- Alloys are always weaker than the pure metal
- Alloys are made only to save money, never to improve them
- Pure metals cannot be shaped at all
- Stainless steel — correct
- Pure iron
- Sodium metal
- Molten wax