Question

Which metal is absent in German silver?
(A) Copper (Cu)
(B) Nickel (Ni)
(C) Tin (Sn)
(D) Zinc (Zn)

Answer 1

German silver is an alloy. Alloy means a mixture of more than two metals form a chemical called an alloy. The properties of an alloy are different from the properties of the constituent metals.

Complete step by step solution:
-German silver is also known as Nickel silver.
-German silver is an alloy containing a mixture of three metals.
-Those three metals are copper (Cu), nickel (Ni) and zinc (Zn).
-The composition of German silver as follows.
Cu- 60%
Ni- 20%
Zn- 20%
-The percentage of copper is 60%, the percentage of nickel is 20%, and the percentage of -Zinc is 20%.
-So, the German silver won’t contain Tin (Sn) metal in its composition.

So, the correct answer is option (C).

Additional information:
-In the 19th century, German workers prepared “German silver” an imitation of the Chinese alloy called paktong.
-German silver initially became popular as a base metal for silver-plated cutlery.
-Coating of German silver as base metal by using an electroplating technique called EPNS (electro-plated nickel silver).
-German silver used in better-quality keys, zippers, costume jewellery, and for making musical instruments (e.g., cymbals, saxophones, etc.),
-German silver is extensively used in the making of coins.

Note: German silver name gives an idea that it contains silver. But the percentage of silver in German silver is zero. Don’t be confused with the name German silver.