Question

Difficulty: Very hardAlloys: Classification, Compositions, Physical Properties, and Uses

Match each specialized metallic alloy listed on the left with its correct elemental composition and primary functional application on the right.

  • German SilverComposed of Cu\text{Cu}, Zn\text{Zn}, and Ni\text{Ni}; contains no actual silver metal, offering high electrical resistance and silver-like corrosion resistance.
  • AlnicoComposed of Al\text{Al}, Ni\text{Ni}, Co\text{Co}, and Fe\text{Fe}; displays exceptional magnetic coercivity utilized for constructing strong permanent magnets.
  • Type MetalComposed of Pb\text{Pb}, Sn\text{Sn}, and Sb\text{Sb}; expands upon solidification to produce sharp, high-definition letter castings in printing presses.
  • Wood's MetalComposed of Bi\text{Bi}, Pb\text{Pb}, Sn\text{Sn}, and Cd\text{Cd}; possesses an unusually low melting point (approx. 65 C65\ ^\circ\text{C}) used in automatic fire-sprinkler safety plugs.

Answer

The correct matches pair German Silver with the copper-zinc-nickel silver-free alloy, Alnico with the aluminium-nickel-cobalt-iron magnetic alloy, Type Metal with the lead-tin-antimony alloy that expands upon solidification, and Wood's Metal with the low-melting bismuth-lead-tin-cadmium fusible alloy.
Each alloy aligns strictly with its chemical formula and specialized physical property: German Silver (CuZnNi\text{Cu}-\text{Zn}-\text{Ni}) is silver-free with high resistance; Alnico (AlNiCoFe\text{Al}-\text{Ni}-\text{Co}-\text{Fe}) forms permanent magnets; Type Metal (PbSnSb\text{Pb}-\text{Sn}-\text{Sb}) expands upon freezing; Wood's Metal (BiPbSnCd\text{Bi}-\text{Pb}-\text{Sn}-\text{Cd}) melts at 65 C65\ ^\circ\text{C}.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the chemical composition and key characteristic of German Silver.
German Silver consists of Cu\text{Cu}, Zn\text{Zn}, and Ni\text{Ni} without any silver content, valued for high electrical resistivity and silvery appearance.
Identifying naming misnomers prevents confusing German Silver with silver-bearing precious metal alloys.
2
Deconstruct the constituent components and physical property of Alnico.
Alnico combines Al\text{Al}, Ni\text{Ni}, Co\text{Co}, and Fe\text{Fe} to form hard ferromagnetic structures.
The alloy acronym highlights its elements (AlNiCo\text{Al}-\text{Ni}-\text{Co}), which deliver superior permanent magnetic strength.
3
Examine the solid-phase volume change characteristic of Type Metal.
Type Metal contains Pb\text{Pb}, Sn\text{Sn}, and Sb\text{Sb}; the presence of antimony induces volumetric expansion upon cooling.
While most metals shrink when freezing, antimony forces Type Metal to expand into fine matrix details during printing press type manufacture.
4
Evaluate the thermal melting point and application of Wood's Metal.
Wood's Metal is a eutectic combination of Bi\text{Bi}, Pb\text{Pb}, Sn\text{Sn}, and Cd\text{Cd} melting at 65 C65\ ^\circ\text{C}.
Combining four metals in specific proportions disrupts individual crystal lattice stability, dropping the melting point below 100 C100\ ^\circ\text{C} for safety sprinkler valves.

Key Concept

Alloy Classifications, Compositions, Phase-Change Properties, and Industrial Uses
Estimated Time:3m 0s
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