A Chemistry Project

on

Study of
Constituents
of Alloy
 AIM
GENERAL OBJECTIVE:
This project was carried out to gain knowledge regarding
alloys, their constituents and uses. The projects mainly
stressed on analyzing the alloys for their constituents and
appreciate the chemistry behind it.

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE:
In this project the alloys, bronze and brass have been
qualitatively analyzed in order to find out their constituents.

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 Contents
1. Certificate 1
2. Aim 2
3. Introduction 4
4. Apparatus 9
5. Theory 10
6. Procedure 11
7. Observations 13
8. Declaration 14
9. Bibliography 15
Actually acknowledgement page
must be on the beginning page of the
project before the Aim..

Sorry for the mistake

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 Introduction
Pure metals possess few important physical and
metallic properties such as melting point, boiling
point, density, specific gravity, high malleability,
ductility, and heat and electrical conductivity. For
many human needs
the extents of these
properties possessed
by these pure metals
dont become much
beneficial.
Therefore to change
(or improve) the Molten bronze being casted
properties, often into coin molds.

these metals are

combined with other metals or non-metals. This
process of mixing a metal with other metals or a
non-metal is called alloying and the resultant solid
solution obtained in the process is termed as an
Alloy. The constituent elements are combined in
such a way that they cannot be separated merely by
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physical means. More than 90% of the metals used
are in the form of alloys.

A List of Alloys, their constituents and uses.

Alloys are generally made to:

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 Enhance the hardness of a metal: An alloy is
generally harder than its constituents. The pure
metals are generally soft.
Lower the melting point: Pure metals have a
high melting point. The melting point lowers
when pure metals are alloyed with other metals
or nonmetals. This makes the metals easily
fusible.
Enhance tensile strength: Alloy formation
increases the tensile strength of the parent metal.
Enhance corrosion and/or heat resistance: Alloys
are more resistant to corrosion than pure metals.
Metals in pure form are chemically reactive and
can be easily corroded by the surrounding
atmospheric gases and moisture. Alloying a
metal increases the inertness of the metal, which,
in turn, increases corrosion resistance.
Modify color: The color of pure metal can be
modified by alloying it with other metals or
nonmetals containing suitable color pigments.
Obtain superconductivity: Some metals can be
alloyed in such a way that their alloy behaves as
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 a superconductor which is of
high importance in
technological advancement.
Provide better
castability: One of the most
A coin made of Bronze essential requirements of
getting good castings is the
expansion of the metal on solidification. Pure
molten metals undergo contraction on
solidification. Metals need to be alloyed to
obtain good castings because alloys expand...
Few examples of alloys are stainless steel, brass,
bronze, nichrome, constantan, crown gold, solder,
amalgam etcwhich are used in soldering, super
conduction making utensils, mechanical materials
like screws and blots etc
In this project, the chemical compositions of two
alloys namely, brass and bronze have been
quantitatively analyzed.

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 A few other materials made of alloys

A screw made of Brass An Alloy wheel frame

Toy of an Alloy, Zamak A superconductor Alloy

A building made of alloy Steel, a common Aloy

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 Apparatus

1. Brass and Bronze pieces

2. China dishes
3. Filtration apparatus
4. Nitric acid
5. Hydrogen sulphide gas
6. Ammonium chloride
7. Ammonium sulphide
8. Dil. hydrochloric acid
9. Mercuric chloride
10. Potassium Ferro cyanide

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 Theory
Brass:
Brass is an alloy constituting Cu and Zn. Both the
ions dissolve in 50% of nitric acid due
to the formation of nitrates which are soluble.

4Zn + 10HNO3 4Zn(NO3)2 + N2O + 5H2S

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

A small piece of brass is dissolved in 50% nitric

acid. After the removal of excess of nitric acid, the
solution is tested for Cu2+ and Zn2+ ions.

Bronze:
Bronze contains Cu and Sn. Their nitrates are
obtained by dissolving the sample in conc.
nitricacid. The nitrates are precipitated as a sulphide
by passing H2S through their solution in dil. HCl.
CuS is insoluble in yellow ammonium sulphide,
while SnS is soluble. The ppt. is separated by
filtration. The ppt. is dissolved in conc. HNO3
and then Ammonium hydroxide solution is passed
through it. Blue coloration confirms the presence of
Cu.
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The filtrate is treated with conc. HCl followed by
Zinc dust to obtain SnCl2.
Then HgCl2solution is added. Formation of slate-
coloured ppt. indicates the presence of Sn.

Procedure
For Brass:
1. A small piece of brass was taken in a china dish
and was heated with a small quantity of 50% HNO3
so as to dissolve the piece completely.
2. The solution was heated till a solid residue was
obtained.

3. The solid residue was dissolved in dil.HCl and

filtered. Distilled water was later added to the
filtrate.

4. H2S gas was passed through the filtrate. A black

precipitate of CuSO4 was obtained. The black ppt.
was separated and the filtrate was kept for testing the
presence of Zn2+ ions. The black ppt. was dissolved
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by heating it with 50% HNO3. To this solution,
ammonium hydroxide solution was added. A deep
blue color appeared in the solution which showed
the presence of copper ions in the solution.

5. To test for the presence of Zn2+ ions: The filtrate

was boiled to remove H2S gas. Then NH4Cl was
dissolved in this filtrate by heating. To make the
solution ammonical excess NH4OH was added. Then
H2S gas was passed through this ammonical
solution. A dirty white or grey ppt. was formed. The
ppt. was then dissolved in minimum amount of dil.
HCl. The solution was boiled to expel any H2S gas
and Potassium ferrocyanide solution was added.
Bluish white ppt. was formed which confirmed the
presence of Zn2+ ions in the solution.

For Bronze
1. The sample was dissolved in 50% HNO3 and then
heated to obtain nitrates.

2. The nitrates were dissolved in dil. HCl and then

precipitated as sulphides by passing H2S gas.

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3. The precipitates were treated with yellow
ammonium sulphide when a part of it dissolves. The
soln. was filtered.

4. The ppt. was tested for Cu as in the case of brass.

5. The filtrate was treated with conc. HCl followed

by Fe dust.

6. Then HgCl2 soln. was added. Formation of a

slate-colored ppt. confirmed the presence of
Sn.

Observations

The following were found to be the constituents of

the alloys which were experimentally analyzed.

Alloy Constituents
Brass Zinc, Copper
Bronze Tin, Copper

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 Declaration
I hereby declare that the project entitled Study of
Constituents of an Alloy submitted to XYZ222
School, Bengaluru, is a record of an original work
done by me by gaining the knowledge related to the
project from certain resources.

- M.S.Somanna
Student, Class 12,
XYZ222 Central School,
Bengaluru.

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 Bibliography
List of alloys. - Wikipedia.org
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_alloys

Alloys and their purposes. - Globalspec.com

www.globalspec.com/reference/46877/2
03279/purpose-of-making-alloys

NCERT Chemistry - Class 12.

Comprehensive Class 12 Chemistry Practicals.

Alloys And their properties gcsescience.com

www.gcsescience.com/ex29.htm

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 ACCKNOWLEDGEMENT
Actually acknowledgement must be
on the beginning page of the project.

I hereby like to express my Sorry for the mistake

gratitude to my school authorities

for suggesting and encouraging
me to undertake the project
entitled Study the constituents
of an alloy.

I would also express my special

thanks to the members of the
school chemistry dept. for
supporting me.

-M.S.Somanna
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Class XII

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