What Element Is an Alloy?

An alloy is a mixture at the atomic level of any metal with one or more other elements. The term alloy does not refer to any specific element.

Copper Alloys

Copper alloys include bronze (a mixture of copper and tin) and brass which consists of copper and zinc. Both of these alloys are considered binary alloys as they have two components.

Steel

Steel is an alloy essential to modern construction and consists of iron and carbon and possibly an assortment of other metal additives. The specific ingredients and proportions in which they're mixed determine the qualities of the alloy.

Jewelry Alloys

Metals commonly used in jewelry making, like 14K gold and sterling silver, are in fact metal alloys. Sterling silver is a mixture of silver, copper and nickel and 14K gold is gold combined with copper and antimony.

References

• Northern Arizona University: Meteorite Book: Glossary Aa: Alloy
• Northwestern State University: Space Science Group Science: Out of This World: Composition of Common Alloys