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CHEMISTRY PROJECT

TOPIC: STUDY OF CONTITUENTS OF ALLOY

NAME: R.VIGNESHWAR

CLASS: XII

SEC: K
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~DEDICATION~

This is to certify that “VIGNESHWAR” a

student of class 12th ‘K’ has successfully

completed the research project on the

topic “STUDY OF CONSTITUENTS OF

ALLOYS” under the guidance of.

This project is absolutely genuine and does

not indulge in plagiarism of any kind. The

references taken in making this project

have been declared at the end of this

project.
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I feel proud to present my project in chemistry on the

“STUDY OF CONSTITUENTS OF ALLOYS”. This project

would not have been feasible without the proper rigorous

guidance of chemistry teacher MRS.JEYALAKSHMI who

guided me throughout this project in every possible way.

A project involves various difficult lab experiments, which

have to obtain the observations and conclude the reports

on a meaningful note. These experiments are very critical

and in the case of failure may result in disastrous

consequences. Thereby, I would like to thanks both

MS.KASTHURI and MRS.CELINE lab teachers for guiding

me on systematic basis and ensuring that in completed all

my experiments with ease. Rigorous hard work has put in

this project to ensure that it proves to be the best. I hope it

prove to be the best. I hope that this project will prove to

be a breeding ground for the next generations of students

and will guide them in every possible way.

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INTRODUCTION
An alloy is a homogeneous mixture of two or
more metals or a metal and non-metal. They
are generally harder than their components
with reduced malleability and ductility. Alloys
are prepared to enhance certain characteristics
of the constituent metals, as per requirement.
The melting point of an alloy is always lower
than the melting points of the constituent
metals. Other properties such as reactivity
towards oxygen and moisture, mechanical
strength, ductility, color etc. also under goes a
change when an alloy is made from its
constituents (metals). This change of properties
is very useful and makes an alloy beneficial.
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Study Of
Constituents Of
Alloys
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Some Common Alloys

And Their Uses :-

:> BRASS :-

Brass is an alloy made of copper and zinc; the

proportions of zinc and copper can be varied to
create a range of brasses with varying properties. By
comparison, bronze is principally an alloy of copper
and tin. However, the common term "bronze" may
also include arsenic, phosphorus, aluminium,
manganese, and silicon. Brass is used for decoration
for its bright gold-like appearance; for applications
where is required such as locks, gears, bearings,
doorknobs, ammunition casings and valves; for
plumbing and electrical applications; and extensively
in brass musical instruments such as horns and bells
where a combination of high workability (historically
with hand tools) and durability is desired. It is also
used in zippers. Brass is often used in situations in
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which it is important that sparks not be struck, such

as in fittings and tools around explosive gases.
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:> BRONZE :-

Bronze is an alloy consisting primarily of copper and

the addition of other metals (usually tin) and
sometimes arsenic, phosphorus, aluminum,
manganese, and silicon. These additions produces an
alloy much harder than copper alone. There are
many different bronze alloys, but typically modern
bronze is 88% copper and 12% tin. Alpha
bronze consists of the alpha solid solution of tin in
copper. Alpha bronze alloys of 4–5% tin are used to
make coins, springs, turbines and blades. Bronze
struck against a hard surface will not generate
sparks, so it (along with beryllium copper) is used to
make hammers, mallets, wrenches and other
durable tools to be used in explosive atmospheres or
in the presence of flammable vapors. Bronze also has
very low metal-on-metal friction, making it
invaluable for the building of cannon where iron
cannonballs would otherwise stick in the barrel. It is
still widely used today for springs, bearings,
bushings, automobile transmission pilot bearings, and
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similar fittings, and is particularly common in the

bearings of small electric motors. Phosphor bronze is
particularly suited to precision-grade bearings and
springs. It is also used in guitar and piano strings.
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:> STEEL :-
Steels are alloys of iron and carbon, widely used in
construction and other applications because of their
high tensile strengths and low costs. Carbon, other
elements, and inclusions within iron act as
hardening agents that prevent the movement
of dislocations that otherwise occur in the crystal
lattices of iron atoms. The carbon in typical steel
alloys may contribute up to 2.1% of its weight.
Varying the amount of alloying elements, their
formation in the steel either as solute elements or as
precipitated phases, retards the movement of those
dislocations that make iron so ductile and weak, or
thus controls qualities such as the hardness, ductility,
and tensile strength of the resulting steel. Steel's
strength compared to pure iron is only possible at
the expense of ductility, of which iron has an excess.
.Iron and steel are used widely in the construction of
roads, railways, other infrastructure, appliances, and
buildings. Most large modern structures, such
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as stadiums and skyscrapers, bridges, and airports,

are supported by a steel skeleton. Even those with a
concrete structure employ steel for reinforcing. In
addition, it sees widespread use in major
appliances and cars.
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:>NICKEL SILVER:-

Nickel silver, German silver, new silver, nickel

brass, or electrum is a copper alloy with nickel and
often zinc. The usual formulation is 60% copper,
20% nickel and 20% zinc. Nickel silver is named for
its silvery appearance, but it contains no
elemental silver unless plated. Nickel silver first
became popular as a base metal for silver-
plated cutlery and other silverware, notably
the electroplated wares called EPNS (electro-plated
nickel silver). It is used in zippers, better-quality
keys, for making musical instruments
(e.g., flutes, clarinets), and is preferred for the track
in electrically powered model railway layouts, as its
oxide is conductive. It is widely used in the
production of coins (e.g. Portuguese escudo). Its
industrial and technical uses include marine fittings
and plumbing fixtures for its corrosion resistance,
and heating coils for its high electrical resistance.
Many professional-level French horns are entirely
made of nickel silver. Many parts of brass
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instruments are made of nickel silver, such as tubes,

braces or valve mechanism.
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EXPERIMENT:-1

Aim: To analyze a sample of brass qualitatively.

Requirements: China dish, test-tube funnel, filter

paper and common laboratory reagents.

Theory:
Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc. With the
following.

Composition:
Cu = 60-90% and Zn. = 10-40%.

Thus Cu and Zn. form the main constituents of

brass. Both these metals dissolved in 50% of nitric
acid due to formation of nitrates which are soluble.

3 Cu + 8HNO3 (Dil) 3 Cu (NO3)2 + 2NO + 4H2O

Or

Cu + 8H+ + 2NO3– 3 Cu+2 + 2NO + 4H2O

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4Zn + 10HNO3 (Dil) 4 Zn (NO2)2 + N2O + 5H2O

4Zn + 2NO3– + 10H+ 4 Zn+2 + N2O + 5H2O

The solution is boiled to expel the oxides of nitrogen

and the resulting solution is tested for Cu2+ and
Zn+2 ions.

Procedure:
1. Place a small piece of brass in a china dish and
heat this with minimum quantity of 50% HNO3 so
as to dissolve the piece completely.

2. Continue heating the solution till a dry solid

residue is obtained.

3. Dissolve the solid residue in dil. HCl and filter.

Add distilled water to the filtrate.

4. Pass H2S gas through the filtrate. A black

precipitate of copper sulphide is obtained. Separate
the black ppt. and keep the filtrate for the test of
Zn+2 ions Dissolve black ppt. by heating them with
50% HNO3. To this solution add ammonium
hydroxide solution. Appearance of deep blue
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coloration in the solution shows the presence of

copper ions in the solution.

5. To test Zn+2 ions, boil the filtrate to remove H2S

gas, then add solid NH4Cl to this and heat to
dissolve NH4Cl. Add excess of NH4OH so that a
solution is ammonia cal. Now pass H2S gas through
this ammonia cal solution. Dirty white or grey
precipitation indicates zinc. Separate the precipitates
and dissolve it in minimum amount of dil. HCl. Boil
to expel H2S gas and add potassium Ferro cyanide
solution, white or bluish white ppt. confirm Zn+2
ions in the solution.

Result: The given sample of brass contains copper

and zinc metals as the main constituents.
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EXPERIMENT:-2

Aim: Project Report to Analyze a Sample of Bronze

Qualitatively.

Requirements: China dish, test-tube funnel, filter

paper and common laboratory reagents.

Theory:
Bronze is an alloy of copper and tin with the
following.

Composition:
Cu = 88-96% and Sn. = 4-12%.

Thus copper and zinc. Form the main constituents of

bronze. Both these metals dissolved in nitric acid.

3 Cu + 8H+ + 2NO3–- 3 Cu2+ + 2NO + 4H2O

4Sn + NO3– + 10 H+ 4 Sn+2 + NH4+ + 3H2O

(Cold and Dil. Acid)

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Sn + 4NO3– + 4H+ H2Sn O3 + 2NO2 + H2O

(Conc. acid) (Metastannic Acid)

Excess of nitric acid is removed by heating the

solution. The resulting solution now would contain
Cu+2 ions and metastannic acid. This solution is
acidified with dil. HCl and H2S gas is passed when
the sulphides of copper and tin are formed.

Cu+2 + S2- CuS (Black ppt.)

H2SnO3 + 2H2S SnS2 (Black ppt.) + 3H2O

The sulphides are separated by boiling the ppt. with

yellow ammonium sulphide when SnS2 goes into
solution as thiostannate whereas CuS is not affected.

SnS2 + (NH4)2S (NH4)2 SnS2 (Soluble)

Ammonium thiostannate.

CuS + (NH4)2S CuS (Unaffected)

Black ppt.
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The soluble black ppt. is tested for Cu+2 ions and the
solution is tested for Sn2+ ions as in elementary
qualitative analysis.

Procedure:
1. Take about 1g of small pieces of bronze in a china
dish and add to it 5-10 ml. of dil. HNO3.

2. Heat the contents slowly to dissolve copper and

tin completely and then boil the contents to a paste
to remove excess of HNO3. All this is carried out in
cup board.

3. Dissolve this dry mass in distilled water

containing HCl (1:1) to get a clear solution.

4. Transfer the solution in a test tube and pass H2S

in excess i.e. till the precipitation is complete. Filter
and reject the filtrate.

5. Take the black ppt. in a test tube and add to it

2-3 ml. of yellow ammonium sulphide and heat.
Filter the contents. Black residue is tested for Cu+2
ions and filtrate is tested for Sn+2 ions.
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6. Analysis of black residue:

Transfer a little of the black ppt. into a test tube.

Add to it 2-3 ml. of 50%. HNO3 and boil the
contents of the tube. A light blue or green sol.
indicates the presence of Cu+2. Divide this sol. into
two parts.

(a) To one part add excess of NH4OH a deep blue

colouration confirms the presence of Cu+2 ions.

(b) Acidify the second part with acetic acid and add
K4 [Fe (CN)6] i.e. potassium ferrocyanide solution. A
reddish brown ppt. confirms the presence of Cu+2
ions.

7. Analysis of filtrate:

Boil the filtrate with 1 ml. of dil. HCl. A yellow ppt.

is obtained. Dissolve in 1 ml. conc. HCl. To this
solution add 0.5 g. of zinc. dust and boil it for 2-3
minutes. Filter and to filtrate add 1-2 ml. of
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mercuric chloride solution. A white ppt. turning grey

on standing confirms the presence of Sn+4 ions.

Result: The given sample of bronze contains - Cu

and Sn as the main constituents.
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BIBLIOGRAPHY
 www.wikipedia.com
 http://www.icbse.com
 Comprehensive chemistry practical class XII
 www.google.com