What is Alloy?
[[File:Iranian Astrolabe 05.jpg|thumb|[[Astrolabe]] of [[brass]] alloy (Copper and zinc).]] An '''alloy''' is a uniform [[mixture]]. It is made up of two or more [[chemical element]]s, of which at least one is a [[metal]]. An alloy has [[property|properties]] different from the metals it is made of. Most alloys are made by melting the metals, mixing them while they are liquid to form a [[solution]], then leaving them to cool and turn solid again. == Theory == Combining a pure [[metal]] with one or more other metals or [[non-metal]]s often makes it better. For example, [[steel]] is an alloy made from iron but it is stronger than iron. Physical [[Property#Characteristics|properties]] like [[density]], [[Reactivity (chemistry)|reactivity]] and [[Electrical conductivity|electrical]] and [[Thermal conductivity|thermal]] (heat) [[Thermal conductivity|conductivity]] may not be much different than the [[Chemical element|element]]s (substances) which make the alloy. But, properties like strength can be very much different. The first alloy to be [[Discovery (observation)|discovered]] was [[Bronze]]. Bronze is made from [[copper]] and [[tin]]. Bronze was discovered a very long time ago in the [[prehistoric]] period. Then, bronze was being used for making tools and [[weapons]]. This period was known as [[Bronze Age]]. But, later better alloys were discovered which replaced bronze for making tools and weapons. Now, bronze is used for making ornaments, [[statues]], and bells. Brass is another alloy made from [[copper]] and [[zinc]]. [[Melting point]] is the [[temperature]] at which a [[Melting|solid changes to liquid]]. Most alloys do not have a single melting point. They have a melting range in which the alloy is a mixture of [[solid]] and [[liquid]] stages. The temperature at which melting just starts is called solidus and the temperature at which the melting is just finished is called liquidus. == Terms related to alloys == The term alloy means a [[mixture]] of [[atoms]] in which the main substance or the primary cons