Question

How are the properties of an alloy different from those of the constitutent elements?

Answer 1

The properties of alloys are different from those of the constituent elements :

1. Alloys have higher strength than their constituting metals. Example: Steel is an alloy of iron with carbon and it has higher strength than iron.

2. Alloys are harder than their constituting metals. Example: Magnalium is an alloy of aluminium and magnesium and it is harder than aluminium.

3. Alloys have high resistance to corrosion than their constituting metals.​ Example: Stainless steel is an alloy of iron, nickel and chromium, and it does not corrode at all, whereas iron rusts easily.

4. Alloys have lesser melting points than their constituting metals.​ ​Example: Solder an alloy of tin and lead and it has a very low melting point, which is less than its constituting metals. 

5. Alloys have low electrical conduction than their constituting metals.​ ​Example: Copper is an excellent conductor of electricity but brass (alloy of copper and zinc) and bronze (alloy of copper and tin) are poor conductors of electricity.