Alloys

Alloys – 50 MCQs with Explanation (BPSC Prelims)

PYQ-Based Questions (Q1–10)

Bronze is an alloy of:
a) Copper and zinc
b) Copper and tin
c) Iron and carbon
d) Copper and iron
✅ b) Copper and tin
Explanation: Bronze = Cu + Sn.
(BPSC 66th Prelims)
Which of the following is a constituent of stainless steel?
a) Iron, chromium, nickel
b) Copper, zinc, tin
c) Lead, tin
d) Aluminium, copper
✅ a) Iron, chromium, nickel
Explanation: Stainless steel resists rust due to chromium.
(BPSC 65th Prelims)
Which alloy is used for making bells?
a) Brass
b) Bronze
c) Duralumin
d) Solder
✅ b) Bronze
Explanation: Bronze produces resonant sound, ideal for bells.
(BPSC Teacher 2023)
Brass is made by combining:
a) Copper and tin
b) Copper and lead
c) Copper and zinc
d) Copper and nickel
✅ c) Copper and zinc
Explanation: Brass = Cu + Zn, yellow in color.
(BPSC 64th Prelims)
Which of the following is used in electrical soldering?
a) Bronze
b) Brass
c) Solder
d) Stainless steel
✅ c) Solder
Explanation: Solder (lead + tin) melts easily.
(BPSC Assistant 2018)
Alloy used in aircraft industry:
a) Duralumin
b) Steel
c) Brass
d) Bronze
✅ a) Duralumin
Explanation: Duralumin = Aluminium + copper + magnesium, very light and strong.
(BPSC CDPO 2017)
Which alloy is used in resistance wires (heater coils)?
a) Brass
b) Nichrome
c) Bronze
d) Solder
✅ b) Nichrome
Explanation: Nichrome = Ni + Cr + Fe; high resistance.
(BPSC 2022 Prelims)
Which alloy is used in coins and medals?
a) Brass
b) Bronze
c) Steel
d) German silver
✅ d) German silver
Explanation: Cu + Zn + Ni = German silver (silver-like appearance).
(BPSC 63rd Prelims)
Which alloy has a low melting point and is used in fuses?
a) Solder
b) Nichrome
c) Brass
d) Bronze
✅ a) Solder
Explanation: Low melting solder breaks circuit during overload.
(BPSC 2019)
Which is not an alloy?
a) Steel
b) Brass
c) Bronze
d) Sodium
✅ d) Sodium
Explanation: Sodium is a pure element, not an alloy.
(BPSC 64th Prelims)

NCERT + Predicted Questions (Q11–50)

Alloy is a:
a) Pure element
b) Compound
c) Homogeneous mixture
d) Isotope
✅ c) Homogeneous mixture
Explanation: Alloys are solid mixtures of metals.
Which metal is always present in amalgam?
a) Lead
b) Mercury
c) Tin
d) Copper
✅ b) Mercury
Explanation: Amalgam = mercury + other metals.
Which alloy is used in making musical instruments like trumpets?
a) Bronze
b) Brass
c) Solder
d) Stainless steel
✅ b) Brass
Explanation: Brass is sonorous and easily moldable.
German silver does not contain:
a) Silver
b) Zinc
c) Copper
d) Nickel
✅ a) Silver
Explanation: German silver looks like silver but doesn’t contain it.
Which metal is used in steel to prevent rusting?
a) Aluminium
b) Nickel
c) Chromium
d) Zinc
✅ c) Chromium
Explanation: Chromium forms a protective oxide layer in stainless steel.
Duralumin contains all except:
a) Copper
b) Aluminium
c) Zinc
d) Magnesium
✅ c) Zinc
Explanation: Duralumin has no Zn.
Solder is useful because of its:
a) Strength
b) Weight
c) High melting point
d) Low melting point
✅ d) Low melting point
Explanation: Melts easily for electronic joining.
Which alloy is used in kitchenware?
a) Bronze
b) Brass
c) Stainless steel
d) Duralumin
✅ c) Stainless steel
Explanation: It resists rust and is durable.
Which alloy is best for making utensils?
a) Brass
b) Bronze
c) Stainless steel
d) Solder
✅ c) Stainless steel
Explanation: Non-reactive and long-lasting.
Which of the following is magnetic?
a) Steel
b) Bronze
c) Brass
d) Solder
✅ a) Steel
Explanation: Due to iron content, steel is magnetic.
What is the primary component of bronze?
a) Aluminium
b) Copper
c) Zinc
d) Iron
✅ b) Copper
Explanation: Cu + Sn = Bronze.
Alloys are made to:
a) Increase cost
b) Decrease strength
c) Improve properties
d) Avoid melting
✅ c) Improve properties
Explanation: Hardness, resistance, durability increase.
Thermocouples use which alloy?
a) Nichrome
b) Constantan
c) Brass
d) Duralumin
✅ b) Constantan
Explanation: Constantan = Cu + Ni, used in thermal sensors.
Which alloy is used in decorative articles?
a) German silver
b) Bronze
c) Brass
d) Duralumin
✅ a) German silver
Explanation: Looks shiny like silver.
Which is more corrosion-resistant?
a) Iron
b) Steel
c) Stainless steel
d) Bronze
✅ c) Stainless steel
Explanation: Chromium resists rust.
An alloy used in thermometer:
a) Duralumin
b) Invar
c) Solder
d) Amalgam
✅ d) Amalgam
Explanation: Mercury amalgam used in dental and lab uses.
Alloy of aluminium used in aircrafts:
a) Duralumin
b) Bronze
c) Solder
d) Nichrome
✅ a) Duralumin
Explanation: Strong and lightweight.
Lead is used in alloy to:
a) Increase strength
b) Increase brittleness
c) Lower melting point
d) Make it magnetic
✅ c) Lower melting point
Explanation: Used in solder for electronics.
Which metal is not in brass?
a) Zinc
b) Copper
c) Tin
d) None
✅ c) Tin
Explanation: Tin is in bronze, not brass.
Stainless steel is used in:
a) Wiring
b) Jewelry
c) Rust-free utensils
d) Batteries
✅ c) Rust-free utensils
Explanation: Durable and non-corrosive.
Nichrome is used in:
a) Food processing
b) Heater coils
c) Amalgams
d) Thermometers
✅ b) Heater coils
Explanation: High resistance and heat tolerance.
Which alloy is used for resistance to electricity?
a) Nichrome
b) Bronze
c) Brass
d) Steel
✅ a) Nichrome
Explanation: Used in toasters, geysers.
Alloy with best conductivity:
a) Brass
b) Bronze
c) Copper
d) None
✅ c) Copper
Explanation: Pure copper conducts better than alloys.
Bell metal is a type of:
a) Bronze
b) Brass
c) Steel
d) Solder
✅ a) Bronze
Explanation: High tin bronze used in bells.
Coinage metal alloy:
a) Brass
b) Bronze
c) German silver
d) Cupro-nickel
✅ d) Cupro-nickel
Explanation: Coins often made from Cu-Ni alloys.
Which one is an inter-metallic compound?
a) Bronze
b) Brass
c) Duralumin
d) None
✅ d) None
Explanation: Alloys are mixtures, not true compounds.
Which alloy is used in jewellery?
a) Bronze
b) Brass
c) White gold
d) Solder
✅ c) White gold
Explanation: White gold = gold + palladium/nickel.
Best alloy for corrosion resistance:
a) Bronze
b) Stainless steel
c) Brass
d) Iron
✅ b) Stainless steel
Explanation: Highly resistant due to chromium.
Alloys used in resistance wire:
a) Copper
b) Iron
c) Nichrome
d) Aluminium
✅ c) Nichrome
Explanation: Used in electrical appliances.
Tin is used in alloys to:
a) Strengthen
b) Increase melting point
c) Lower melting point
d) Make shiny
✅ c) Lower melting point
Explanation: Tin softens and reduces melting temp.
Alloy used in magnets:
a) Steel
b) Alnico
c) Bronze
d) Brass
✅ b) Alnico
Explanation: Alnico = Aluminium + Nickel + Cobalt.
Which alloy is best for dental filling?
a) German silver
b) Bronze
c) Amalgam
d) Brass
✅ c) Amalgam
Explanation: Mercury-based amalgam is used.
White gold contains:
a) Silver
b) Platinum
c) Gold + Nickel
d) Copper + Zinc
✅ c) Gold + Nickel
Explanation: Alloyed to give a silvery appearance.
Alloy used in filament of bulbs:
a) Brass
b) Nichrome
c) Tungsten
d) Invar
✅ c) Tungsten
Explanation: Though not an alloy, used for its high melting point.
Bronze is preferred over pure copper because:
a) Cheaper
b) Lighter
c) More corrosion-resistant
d) Heavier
✅ c) More corrosion-resistant
Explanation: Tin makes it more durable.
Which metal is common in all electrical alloys?
a) Tin
b) Lead
c) Copper
d) Zinc
✅ c) Copper
Explanation: Excellent conductor.
Alloy used in airplane parts:
a) Nichrome
b) Brass
c) Duralumin
d) Steel
✅ c) Duralumin
Explanation: High strength and light weight.
Alloy used in pendulum clocks:
a) Bronze
b) Invar
c) Solder
d) German silver
✅ b) Invar
Explanation: Low expansion alloy used in precision instruments.
Why are alloys better than pure metals?
a) Lower strength
b) Higher cost
c) Better properties
d) None
✅ c) Better properties
Explanation: Hardness, resistance, strength improve.
What type of alloy is bronze?
a) Substitutional
b) Interstitial
c) Homogeneous
d) Heterogeneous
✅ a) Substitutional
Explanation: Atoms of tin substitute copper atoms.