CHEMISTRY

INVESTIGATORY PROJECT

2016-17

AIM: TO STUDY
THE
CONSTITUENTS OF
ALLOYS
NAME:
JIVITESH PAUL

CLASS:
12-B
BOARD ROLL NO:
SIGNATURE:

Contents
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

Acknowledgement
Aim
Apparatus
Theory
Procedure
Conclusion
Precautions
Bibliography

aim
GENERAL OBJECTIVE:
This project was carried out to gain knowledge regarding
alloys, their constituents and uses. The projects mainly
stressed on analyzing the alloys for their constituents and
appreciate the chemistry behind it.

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE:
In this project the alloys, bronze and brass have been
qualitatively analyzed in order to find out their constituents.

Apparatus

1. Brass and Bronze pieces

2. China dishes
3. Filtration apparatus
4. Nitric acid
5. Hydrogen sulphide gas
6. Ammonium chloride
7. Ammonium sulphide
8. Dil. hydrochloric acid
9. Mercuric chloride
10. Potassium Ferro cyanide

Theory
An alloy is a mixture of metals or a mixture of a metal
and another element. Alloys are defined by metallic
bonding character. An alloy may be a solid solution of
metal elements or a mixture of metallic
phases. Intermetallic compounds are alloys with a
defined stoichiometry and crystal structure. Zintl
phases are also sometimes considered alloys depending
on bond types.
Alloys are used in a wide variety of applications. In
some cases, a combination of metals may reduce the
overall cost of the material while preserving important
properties. In other cases, the combination of metals
imparts synergistic properties to the constituent metal
elements such as corrosion resistance or mechanical
strength. Examples of alloys are steel, solder, brass,
bronze, pewter and amalgams.
The alloy constituents are usually measured by mass.
Alloys are usually classified as substitutional
or interstitial alloys, depending on the atomic
arrangement that forms the alloy. They can be further
classified as homogeneous, or heterogeneous
or intermetallic.

Theory brass

Brass:
Brass is an alloy constituting Cu and Zn. Both the
ions dissolve in 50% of nitric acid due
to the formation of nitrates which are soluble.

4Zn + 10HNO3 4Zn (NO3)2 + N2O + 5H2S

3Cu + 8HNO3 3Cu(NO3)2 + 4H2O + 2NO

A small piece of brass is dissolved in 50% nitric

acid. After the removal of excess of nitric acid, the
solution is tested for Cu2+ and Zn2+ ions.

Theory bronze

Bronze:
Bronze contains Cu and Sn. Their nitrates are
obtained by dissolving the sample in conc. Nitric
acid. The nitrates are precipitated as a sulphide by
passing H2S through their solution in dil. HCl. CuS is
insoluble in yellow ammonium sulphide, while SnS
is soluble. The ppt. is separated by filtration. The
ppt. is dissolved in conc. HNO3
and then Ammonium hydroxide solution is passed
through it. Blue coloration confirms the presence of
Cu.
The filtrate is treated with conc. HCl followed by
Zinc dust to obtain SnCl2.
Then HgCl2solution is added. Formation of slatecoloured ppt. indicates the presence of Sn.

Procedure

For Brass:
1. A small piece of brass was taken in a china dish and
was heated with a small quantity of 50% HNO3 so as to
dissolve the piece completely.
2. The solution was heated till a solid residue was
obtained.
3. The solid residue was dissolved in dil.HCl and filtered.
Distilled water was later added to the filtrate.
4. H2S gas was passed through the filtrate. A black
precipitate of CuSO4 was obtained. The black ppt. was
separated and the filtrate was kept for testing the presence
of Zn2+ ions. The black ppt. was dissolved by heating it
with 50% HNO3. To this solution, ammonium hydroxide
solution was added. A deep blue color appeared in the
solution which showed the presence of copper ions in the
solution.
5. To test for the presence of Zn 2+ ions: The filtrate was
boiled to remove H2S gas. Then NH4Cl was dissolved in
this filtrate by heating. To make the solution ammonical
excess NH4OH was added. Then H2S gas was passed
through this ammonical solution. A dirty white or grey

ppt. was formed. The ppt. was then dissolved in minimum

amount of dil. HCl. The solution was boiled to expel any
H2S gas and Potassium ferrocyanide solution was added.
Bluish white ppt. was formed which confirmed the
presence of Zn2+ ions in the solution.

For Bronze:
1.The sample was dissolved in 50% HNO3 and then
heated to obtain nitrates.
2. The nitrates were dissolved in dil. HCl and then
precipitated as sulphides by passing H2S gas.
3.The precipitates were treated with yellow ammonium
sulphide when a part of it dissolves. The soln. was
filtered.
4. The ppt. was tested for Cu as in the case of brass.
5. The filtrate was treated with conc. HCl followed by Fe
dust.
6. Then HgCl2soln. was added. Formation of a slatecolored ppt. confirmed the presence of Sn.

conclusion

The following were found to be the constituents of

the alloys which were experimentally analyzed.
Brass was found to contain copper and zinc.
Bronze was found to contain copper and tin.

Bibliography

List of alloys. - Wikipedia.org

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_alloys
Alloys and their purposes. - Globalspec.com
www.globalspec.com/reference/46877/
203279/purpose-of-making-alloys
NCERT Chemistry - Class 12.
Comprehensive Class 12Chemistry Practicals.
Alloys And their properties gcsescience.com
www.gcsescience.com/ex29.htm

Acknowledgement

I have taken efforts in this project. However, it would not have

been possible without the kind support and help of my school

and my family. I would like to extend my sincere thanks to all of

them.
I am highly indebted to Mukta maam, my chemistry teacher
and Dubey sir, the lab assistant for their guidance and constant
supervision as well as for providing necessary information
regarding the project & also for their support in completing the
project.
I would like to express my gratitude towards my parents for
their kind co-operation and encouragement which help me in
completion of this project.

Precautions

1. We need to be careful while using such high concentration of

acid as it can harm our skin.

2. We need to cover our face when we pour the acid on the

pieces as the fumes are harmful.
3. We should properly filter the solution.
4. The pieces of brass and bronze chosen should be authentic.
5. Our workplace should be cleaned before and after.