Brass is an alloy (a solid solution) of copper, Cu, and zinc, Zn. Given this fact, answer the following: (a) Copper powder and zinc powder are ground together. Is the resulting product a solution or a heterogeneous mixture? Explain. (b) The Cu and Zn powders are ground together, and then the mixture is heated until it is molten metal. Is the molten metal a solution or a heterogeneous mixture? Explain. (c) The molten metal from part (b) is allowed to cool and solidify. Is the resulting solid a solution or a heterogeneous mixture? Explain.

Short Answer

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(a) The resulting product of ground copper and zinc powders is a heterogeneous mixture because the mixing of the powders does not create a uniform substance. (b) The molten metal obtained by heating Cu and Zn powders is a solution (alloy) due to the even distribution of atoms achieved through metallic bonding in the molten state. (c) The solid obtained after cooling and solidifying the molten metal is a solution (alloy) as the uniform distribution of atoms is maintained, resulting in brass.

Step by step solution

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(a) Discussing the mixture of copper and zinc powders

When copper and zinc powders are ground together, the resulting product is a heterogeneous mixture. This is because the mixing of powders does not lead to the formation of a uniform substance. You can still differentiate between copper and zinc powders in the mixture since they did not undergo any chemical change.
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(b) Classifying molten metal as a solution or heterogeneous mixture

When the copper and zinc powders are mixed and then heated until they form molten metal, a homogeneous mixture, or a solution, is created. In the molten state, the copper and zinc atoms become evenly distributed due to the metallic bonding. This homogeneous distribution resulting from the heating process forms a solution, which is called an alloy.
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(c) Identifying the resulting solid as a solution or heterogeneous mixture

When the molten metal from part (b) is allowed to cool and solidify, the resulting solid is a solution, an alloy. The cooling process of the molten metal doesn't change its homogeneous distribution of atoms. Copper and zinc atoms remain uniformly distributed in the solid state, maintaining the properties of a solid solution. This alloy is also known as brass.

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