What is an alloy? How do the properties of an alloy differ from its constituents?

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Solution

Alloy is a homogeneous mixture of two or more metals or of one or more metals with certain non-metallic elements.
The properties of alloys are often greatly different from those of the components.
For example: Gold is too soft to be used without small percentage of copper.
A low percentage of molybdenum improves the toughness and wear resistance of steel.
Bell metal is more sonorous than copper or tin.
Alnico an alloy of aluminium, nickel and cobalt can lift 60 times its own mass.
These added elements improve hardness, wear resistance, toughness and other properties.

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