What is an alloy
Alloys and amalgams.
Mixing metals
A metal is melted and another substance is dissolved in it.
What is the mixture called?
What this lesson covers
The idea
An alloy is a homogeneous mixture of two or more metals, or a metal and a non-metal, made by melting the primary metal, dissolving the others in definite proportions and cooling; an alloy containing mercury is an amalgam.
Mixing metals
A metal is melted and another substance is dissolved in it.
What is the mixture called?
- An alloy
- A gas
- An ore
Make an alloy
Press Next step.
Alloys and amalgams
An alloy is a homogeneous mixture of two or more metals, or of a metal and a non-metal. To prepare it, the primary metal is melted, the other elements are dissolved in it in definite proportions, and it is cooled to room temperature. If one of the metals is mercury, the alloy is an amalgam.
An alloy is a homogeneous mixture of two or more metals, or a metal and a non-metal, made by melting the primary metal, dissolving the others in definite proportions and cooling; an alloy containing mercury is an amalgam.
Notes
An alloy is a homogeneous mixture of metals, or a metal and a non-metal (melt, dissolve in definite proportions, cool); with mercury it is an amalgam.
Check yourself
An alloy is ...
What is done first when preparing an alloy?
An alloy in which one of the metals is mercury is called ...
22 carat gold has 22 parts of pure gold alloyed with 2 parts of copper or silver. How many parts are there in all?
Answer: 24
22 + 2 = 24 parts. Pure 24 carat gold has no other metal and is very soft.
- a compound of one metal and oxygen. A metal and oxygen form a metal oxide; an alloy is a mixture.
- a pure element. An alloy is a mixture, not a pure element.
- a homogeneous mixture of two or more metals, or a metal and a non-metal — correct. Yes!
- The primary metal is melted — correct. Yes!
- The mixture is cooled. Cooling to room temperature is the last step.
- The other elements are removed. The other elements are dissolved in the molten primary metal.
- a thermit. Thermit is the reaction of iron(III) oxide with aluminium.
- an amalgam — correct. Yes!
- a gangue. Gangue is the soil and sand mixed in an ore.