---
title: "Define metals and alloys"
subject: "Civil Engineering Materials"
chapter: 8
key: "semester_3/civil_engineering_materials:define-metals-alloys"
source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_3/civil_engineering_materials/define-metals-alloys
site: BCT Engineering
---

# Define metals and alloys

Civil Engineering Materials · Chapter 8: Metals and Alloys

- Asked in: 2081 Chaitra (new course), 2 marks; 2081 Bhadra, 1 marks (asked 2 times)
- Video: [Alloys of metals (the basics explained)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P4fFoGKwcFs) — StudyPass
- Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14
- Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_3/civil_engineering_materials/define-metals-alloys
- Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_3/civil_engineering_materials/chapter-8

## Question

Define metals and alloys.

## Short answer

A metal is a lustrous, malleable, ductile, conductive element such as iron or copper. An alloy is a mixture of a metal with other elements, melted together to obtain improved properties; steel and brass are examples.

## Answer

- **Metal:** an element that is usually hard, lustrous, malleable and ductile, and a good conductor of heat and electricity, for example iron, copper, aluminium, zinc and lead. Metals are crystalline solids and form positive ions.
- **Alloy:** a mixture of a metal with one or more other metals or non-metals, formed by melting them together and solidifying, to obtain improved properties (strength, hardness, corrosion resistance). Examples: steel (iron + carbon), brass (copper + zinc), bronze (copper + tin).

## Check yourself

The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why.

1. An alloy is
   A. Pure element
   B. Compound only
   C. Non-metal
   D. A mixture of a metal with other metals or non-metals
   Answer: D. Mixture. (Key point: Alloy)

2. Steel is an alloy of
   A. Iron and carbon
   B. Copper and zinc
   C. Copper and tin
   D. Lead and tin
   Answer: A. Fe + C. (Key point: Steel)

3. Brass is
   A. Copper + tin
   B. Copper + zinc
   C. Iron + carbon
   D. Lead
   Answer: B. Cu+Zn. (Key point: Brass)