All About Alloys

There are some familiar metals that are actually mixtures of several different types of metals - they are called alloys (AL-oise). Here are a few you've probably heard of (and some that are likely new to you):

• Steel: mixture of iron and one or more other metals (there will be a separate post about steel later)
• Brass (copper and zinc): a shiny yellow metal that looks a little like gold
• Bronze (copper and tin): a dark gold to brown metal that gets darker in color as it ages
• Pewter (copper, tin, and lead): a dark gray metal used for bowls, flatware, jewelry and other decorative items
• Solder (lead and usually tin): an alloy that melts at a relatively low temperature; used to make electrical circuits
• Nitinol (nickel and titanium): this alloy remembers its original shape; used to make eyeglass frames
• Electrum (gold and silver): also known as white gold; used in jewelry
• Alnico (aluminum, nickel, and copper): used to make magnets
• Amalgam (silver, tin, copper, zinc, and mercury): a soft alloy that has been used to fill dental cavities
• Nichrome (nickel and chromium): an alloy that glows orange-red and gives off heat when an electrical current is passed through it; used in toasters and electric burners

Take a look around your house and see how many examples of alloys you can find!

Fun Facts 7

MORE element information!

• The famous composer Ludwig van Beethoven probably died from lead (Pb, #82) poisoning. That would explain why he was sick so often, and why he lost his hearing.
• The metal rhenium (Re, #75) is used to make jet engines because it remains strong at high temperatures.
• Glass containing boron (B, #5) can be used in the oven; this is sometimes called Pyrex glass.
• Vanadium (V, #23) was actually discovered twice! In 1801, Manuel del Rio from Mexico City found vanadium in a metal ore sample. However, other scientists convinced him that he had made a mistake. It wasn't until 1831 that the Swede Nils Gabriel Sefström rediscovered it. Scientists quickly realized that del Rio had been first, and he is considered to be the official discoverer of vanadium.
• Some compounds made with bromine (Br, #35) do not burn easily, so they may be added to plastics as flame retardants.
• Albert Einstein is one of the most famous scientists of all time, so it is not surprising that he has an element named after him - einsteinium (Es, #99). Unfortunately, it's not really used for anything!
• The radioactive element uranium (U, #92) strengthens the armor on miliary vehicles such as tanks.
• Iodine (I, #53) is commonly added to table salt to help keep people's thyroid glands healthy.
• Small, but very powerful, magnets made with neodymium (Nd, #60) are used in cell phones, computers, and cars.
• Arsenic (As, #33) is well-known as a poison, and has been used to kill pests such as bugs and mice since the time of the ancient Chinese.