Question

A metal alloy is used in printing presses as a picture, number or alphabet lettertype for A. printing. It contains:
A. Chromium
B. Lead
C. Oxygen
D. steel

Answer 1

A printing type metal means the metal alloys which are used in traditional hot metal typesetting. So let us see which is an alloy metal and is used to type on papers, magazines, etc and find the correct answer.

Complete step by step answer:
Antimony has a melting point of $630^\circ C$ and is highly crystalline metalloid (Metalloids are elements having the properties of both metals and nonmetals) giving the property of metal .i.e. hardness and a better and sharper cast. It has a crystalline in appearance being both brittle and fusible. When antimony is alloyed with lead it becomes stronger strengthening the alloy and improving casting details. So from the given options above the correct answer is lead.

So, the correct answer is Option C.

Additional information:
Type metal alloy of tin, antimony and lead are used to make type metal for printing. In various proportions of metals, the desired properties are produced for different kinds of printing process. The proportions used are lead$50\% - 86\%$, antimony$50\% - 86\%$, and tin $3\% - 20\%$. There is a reduced difference between the coefficient of expansion of the alloy when antimony and tin are added to lead for durability.

Note: lead is an alloy for type metal. When lead is in its pure form it’s very inexpensive. It is soft which makes it easier to cast and since it melts at $327^\circ C$. It is exceptionally soft, ductile and malleable but with low tensile strength. It is a poison that can damage brain function.