Determine if each statement is true or false: (a) Substitutional alloys are solid solutions, but interstitial alloys are heterogenous alloys. (c) The atomic radii of the atoms in a substitutional alloy are similar to each other, but in an interstitial alloy, the interstitial atoms are a lot smaller than the host lattice atoms.
Ch.12 - Solids and Modern Materials
Brown14th EditionChemistry: The Central ScienceISBN: 9780134414232Not the one you use?Change textbook
Chapter 12, Problem 41
Which of these statements about alloys and intermetallic compounds is false? (a) Bronze is an example of an alloy. (b) 'Alloy' is just another word for 'a chemical compound of fixed composition that is made of two or more metals.' (c) Intermetallics are compounds of two or more metals that have a definite composition and are not considered alloys. (d) If you mix two metals together and, at the atomic level, they separate into two or more different compositional phases, you have created a heterogeneous alloy. (e) Alloys can be formed even if the atoms that comprise them are rather different in size.
Verified step by step guidance1
Identify the key terms: alloy, intermetallic compound, heterogeneous alloy, and compositional phases.
Understand that an alloy is a mixture of two or more elements, where at least one is a metal, and it does not have a fixed composition.
Recognize that intermetallic compounds have a definite stoichiometric composition and distinct crystal structures, unlike alloys.
Analyze each statement: (a) Bronze is a mixture of copper and tin, making it an alloy. (b) This statement incorrectly defines an alloy as a compound with a fixed composition. (c) Intermetallics are indeed compounds with definite compositions, not considered alloys. (d) A heterogeneous alloy has distinct phases, as described. (e) Alloys can form with atoms of different sizes, such as in substitutional or interstitial alloys.
Determine which statement is false based on the definitions and characteristics of alloys and intermetallic compounds.

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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Alloys vs. Intermetallic Compounds
Alloys are mixtures of two or more metals that can exhibit variable compositions, while intermetallic compounds are distinct phases with a fixed stoichiometry. Alloys typically retain the properties of their constituent metals, whereas intermetallics often have unique properties that differ from those of the individual metals.
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Homonuclear vs. Heteronuclear Compounds
Heterogeneous vs. Homogeneous Alloys
A heterogeneous alloy consists of two or more distinct phases at the atomic level, meaning the metals do not mix uniformly. In contrast, a homogeneous alloy has a uniform composition throughout, where the metals are mixed at the atomic level, resulting in a single phase.
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Composition and Properties of Alloys
The properties of an alloy depend on its composition and the relative sizes of the constituent atoms. Alloys can be formed even when the constituent metals have significantly different atomic sizes, which can lead to unique mechanical and physical properties, such as increased strength or corrosion resistance.
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Chemical Properties
Related Practice
Textbook Question
Textbook Question
For each of the following alloy compositions, indicate whether you would expect it to be a substitutional alloy, an interstitial alloy, or an intermetallic compound: (a) Fe0.97Si0.03 (b) Fe0.60Ni0.40 (c) SmCo5.
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Textbook Question
An element crystallizes in a face-centered cubic lattice. The edge of the unit cell is 4.078 Å, and the density of the crystal is 19.30 g>cm3. Calculate the atomic weight of the element and identify the element.
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Textbook Question
Determine if each statement is true or false: (b) Substitutional alloys have 'solute' atoms that replace 'solvent' atoms in a lattice, but interstitial alloys have 'solute' atoms that are in between the 'solvent' atoms in a lattice.
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