THEORY

An alloy is a homogeneous mixture of two or more metals or metals and non-metals. In other
words a solid solution of two or more metals or a metal and a non metal. It is prepared by first
melting the main metal, and then, dissolving the other elements in it in a definite proportion. It
is then cooled to the room temperature. If one of the metals is mercury, then the alloy is known
as amalgam. The electrical conductivity of an alloy is less than that of pure metals.

More than ten thousands alloys have been prepared so far and about hundred of them are in
common use, for example, stainless steel, brass, bronze, duralumin, soldering metal, gun metal,
etc. So large numbers of alloys have been prepared because the properties of the parent metals
constituting the alloy are modified a lot by alloy formation. For example, pure copper metal is
soft and ductile, but when it is alloyed with small amount of zinc, becomes hard.

Thus, alloys are made to improve the following properties of metals:

• For increasing hardness

• For increasing tensile strength

• For increasing chemical resistance

• For lowering melting point

• For modifying colour

Alloys are prepared from the metals generally by fusion technique. That is, metals are
converted first to molten state, mixed well and then allowed to solidify again. A number of
methods, instrumental as well as chemical, are known for finding out the constituents of an
alloy. In chemical method, first a solution of the alloy is being prepared, and then presence of
various constituents can be tested either by applying spot test i.e., making use of different
organic reagents or by applying regular qualitative inorganic analysis scheme
TO ANALYSE A SAMPLE

OF BRASS

FOR DETECTION

OF METAL

PRESENT IN IT
 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

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 Cu 2+
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
colouration 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 ammoniacal. Now pass H2S gas
through this ammoniacal solution. Dirty white or grey precipitation indicate 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.