Alloys

Generally metals are insoluble in ordinary solvents like water, alcohol. But a metal can dissolve in another metal in molten state forming a homogeneous liquid mixture, which on cooling solid mixture called an alloy. Most of the metals can mix up in all proportions for example tin and lead mix up in all proportions forming alloys. Alloys are formed not only by metals among themselves, but also by metal and non metal. From the above explanation it is clear that an alloy contains atleast one metal.

An alloy is defined as “homogeneous solid solution of two or more different elements, one of which at least is essentially a metal”. Alloys containing Hg as a constituent element are called amalgams.