10 Metal Alloy Facts
1 of 4
About.com
http://chemistry.about.com/od/alloys/a/10-Metal-Alloy-Facts.htm
About Education
Chemistry
...
Alloys
Interesting Facts About Alloys
Ads
Metal Alloys
Nickel Steel Alloy
White Gold Ring
•
Aluminum Bronze Alloy
Solder Alloys
Gold Plated Jewelry
By Anne Marie Helmenstine,
Ph.D.
Updated December 04, 2014.
You use metal alloys everyday.
You encounter alloys in
jewelry, cookware, tools, and
most other items made of
metal. Examples of alloys
include white gold, Sterling
silver, brass, bronze, and
steel. Here are 10 interesting
Gold used in jewelry is an alloy. Both yellow gold and white gold
facts about metal alloys.
consist of gold alloyed with one or more silver metals. Only 24k
1. An alloy is a blend of two or
gold is pure gold and it is too soft for jewelry except as a coating.
Schtone, Creative Commons License
more metals. The blend can
form a solid solution or it can
be a simple mixture, depending on the size of the crystals that form and how
homogeneous the alloy is.
2. Although sterling silver is an alloy consisting mainly of silver, many alloys
with the word "silver" in their name are only silver in color! German silver
and Tibetan silver are examples of alloys that don't actually contain any
elemental silver.
3. Many people believe steel is an alloy of iron and nickel, but actually steel is
an alloy consisting primarily of iron, always with some carbon, with any of
several metals.
4. Stainless steel is an alloy of iron, low levels of carbon, and chromium. The
chromium gives the steel resistance to "stain" or iron rust. A thin layer of
chromium oxide forms on the surface of stainless steel, protecting it from
oxygen, which is what causes rust. However, stainless steel can be stained
if you expose it to a corrosive environment, such as seawater. The corrosive
environment attacks and removes the protective chromium oxide coating
more quickly than it can repair itself, exposing the iron to attack.
✔ About Today
✔ Living Healthy
CONTINUE READING BELOW OUR VIDEO
✔ Chemistry
7 Great Ways To Improve Your Memory
SIGN UP
Chemistry 101
Chemistry Tests and Quizzes
Demonstrations - Experiments
Periodic Table and the Elements
Chemistry Disciplines - Branches of
Chemistry
Chemistry Homework Help
Molecules and Compounds
3/22/2016 6:36 PM
10 Metal Alloy Facts
2 of 4
http://chemistry.about.com/od/alloys/a/10-Metal-Alloy-Facts.htm
10 Metal Alloy Facts
What Is Tibetan Silver?
Alloys List
Electrum Metal Alloy
Chemistry in Everyday Life
Brass Alloys
6. Brass is an alloy consisting primarily of copper and zinc. Bronze, on the
other hand, is an alloy of copper with another metal, usually tin. Originally,
brass and bronze were considered to be distinct alloys, but in modern
usage, brass is any copper alloy. You may hear brass cited as a type of
bronze or vice versa.
Toxic Chemicals and Safety
7. Pewter is a tin alloy consisting of 85-99% tin with copper, antimony, bismuth,
lead, and/or silver. Although lead is used much less commonly in modern
pewter, even "lead-free" pewter typically contains a small amount of lead.
This is because "lead-free" is defined as containing no more than .05% (500
ppm) lead. This amount remains appreciable if the pewter is used for
cookware, dishes, or children's jewelry.
Science Demonstrations, Experiments, and
Projects
Chemistry Laboratory
Careers and Education
Chemistry Facts and Pictures
Chemistry Basics
Science Fair Ideas and Help
Updated Articles and Resources
Expert Videos
8. Electrum is a naturally occurring alloy of gold and silver with small amounts
of copper and other metals. The ancient Greeks considered it to be "white
gold." It was used as far back as 3000 B.C. for coins, drinking vessels, and
ornaments.
9. Gold can exist in nature as a pure metal, but most of the gold you encounter
is an alloy. The amount of gold in the alloy is expressed in terms of karats.
24 karat gold is pure gold. 14 karat gold is 14/24 parts gold, while 10 karat
gold is 10/24 parts gold, or less than half gold. Any of several metals can be
used for the remaining portion of the alloy.
10. An amalgam is an alloy made by combining mercury with another metal.
Almost all metals form amalgams, with the exception of iron. Amalgam is
used in dentistry and in gold and silver mining because these metals readily
combine with mercury.
What Is Tibetan Silver?
What are Some Common Metal Alloys?
What Is Bronze?
What Is an Alloy?
About.com
About Education
Chemistry
...
Jewelry Chemistry
Chemical Composition of Tibetan Silver
By Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D.
Updated February 28, 2015.
Question: What Is Tibetan Silver?
Tibetan Silver is the name given to the metal used in some jewelry available
online, such as on eBay or via Amazon. These items typically ship from
China. Have you ever wondered how much silver is in Tibetan Silver or
about the chemical composition of Tibetan Silver? Would you be surprised
to learn that this metal can be dangerous?
Answer: Tibetan Silver is a silver-colored alloy consisting of copper with tin
or nickel. Some items described as Tibetan Silver are cast iron that has
been plated with the silver-colored metal. Most Tibetan Silver is copper with
tin rather than copper with nickel, because nickel causes skin reactions in
3/22/2016 6:36 PM