Q1.
Do you know that stainless steel is also a mixture?
Answer
Yes. Stainless steel contains iron, nickel, chromium and a small amount of carbon. They are mixed so uniformly that the whole mixture looks the same throughout and you cannot see the individual substances in it.
Such uniform mixtures of metals are called alloys. Two more from the chapter:
| Alloy | Made by mixing | Seen as |
|---|---|---|
| Stainless steel | Iron, nickel, chromium and a little carbon | Plates, spoons, cooking vessels |
| Brass | Copper and zinc | Lotas, pots, door handles |
| Bronze | Copper and tin | Statues, bells, old vessels |
Why it happens: The metals are melted together, so their particles get mixed right down to the level of individual particles — that is why an alloy is a uniform mixture and not a compound. No chemical reaction has taken place and the proportions are not fixed by any rule; a maker can change how much zinc goes into brass. That is also why an alloy can be made stronger or more rust-resistant than the pure metal: stainless steel is stronger and more durable than pure iron.
Did you know? Our scientific heritage box on the same page calls such a mixture mishraloha. The Charaka Samhita and Susruta Samhita describe bronze (kamsya) — copper (tamra, 4 parts) with tin (vanga, 1 part) — being used to improve digestion and boost immunity.