Basic Science | Class: JSS1 | Term: 1st

Alloys: Types, Composition and Uses of Alloys

len Alfred Ajibola - 19th May, 2026 @ 12:01 PM

Topics in Basic Science

Classifications of Drugs, Sources of Drugs and Drug Abuse Teeth, Structure of the Tooth, Dentition and Dental Care Balanced Diet, Classes of Food and their Importance Classes of Food, their Composition and Functions Nutrition: Types and Class of Food Cleanliness of parts of the body Family Health and Personal Cleanliness Behaviors and Feelings during Adolescence Pubertal changes in Boys and Girls Classification and Uses of Rubber Characteristics, Classification and Uses of Plastics Cement: Composition, Types and Uses of Cement Types, Properties and Uses of Ceramics Properties and Uses of Nonmetals Safety Devices: Examples and Uses of Safety Devices Accident Prevention Techniques and Safety Rules Safety Precautions for Pedestrians, Cyclists and Motorists Technology: Benefits of Technology Alloys: Types, Composition and Uses of Alloys Ferrous and Non-Ferrous Metals


Academic Questions in Basic Science

Please click here to see all Questions and Answers

Which of the following diseases is associated with river blindness?

  • A. Anthrax

  • B. Lawnmower Disease

  • C. Onchocerciasis

  • D. Devil's Crunch

  • E. Trypanosomiasis

  • F. Tularemia

The vector for yellow fever is _____.

  • A. Aedes Mosquito

  • B. Female Anopheles Mosquito

  • C. Plasmodium

  • D. Flavivirus

  • E. Black Fly

  • F. Bacillus Anthracis

The bones of the head and face make up the skull. These bones are _____ in number.

  • A. 12

  • B. 14

  • C. 16

  • D. 18

  • E. 20

  • F. 22

Bacteria are not a constituent of our environment.

  • A. True

  • B. False

Below are types of drugs. Which of these is considered as pain killers?

  • A. Stimulants

  • B. Depressants

  • C. Opiods and Morphine Derivatives

  • D. Hallucinogens

  • E. Anabolic Steroids

  • F. Cannabinoids

Which of the following statement is false concerning drugs?

  • A. Drugs can be inhaled

  • B. Drugs can be injected directly into the bloodstream 

  • C. Drugs can be eaten

  • D. Drugs exist exclusively in the forms of tablets and syrups

  • E. Drugs can be placed under the tongue

  • F. Drugs can be taken with water or another liquid

Vaccination involves a process of introducing pathogens or germs into a person in order to prevent such person from the diseases they cause.

  • A. True

  • B. False

With regards to the human health, foreign bodies are best regarded as _____.

  • A. International bodies

  • B. Antilators

  • C. Antibodies

  • D. Antigens

  • E. Antibiotics

  • F. Antidotes



Alloys


An alloy is a substance formed when a metal is mixed with one or more elements in order to enhance the properties of the parent metal. Examples of properties enhanced through alloying include durability, hardness, toughness, corrosion resistance, and even aesthetics, making the alloy superior to the parent metal.

An alloy is defined as a substance formed by mixing a specific metal with one or more different metal(s) or non-metal(s) in order to enhance the features of the parent metal.

 

A technique used in producing alloys is via melting the base (parent) metal and another metal or non-metal; allowing both to cool and solidify. Alloys are generally considered as mixtures, and not compounds, since they do not have stoichiometric (chemical) formulas.

Please read on mixtures here.

 


Types of Alloys


  • Ferrous Alloys: They always contain a significant proportion of iron alloyed with other elements. Examples include stainless steel, wrought iron, pig iron, cast iron, steel etc.

  • Non-Ferrous Alloys: These are alloys that do not contain iron. Examples include brass (copper and zinc) and bronze (copper and tin). 

Please read more on ferrous and non-ferrous metals here.

  • Steel Alloys: The primary metal is iron. It is mixed with carbon to significantly increase its strength, toughness, and durability. It is applied in road and railway construction, building of houses, and the manufacture of kitchenwares. Examples of steel alloys include stainless steel, carbon steel, and alloy steel.

  • Aluminum Alloys: The primary metal is aluminum which can be mixed (or alloyed) with copper, magnesium or zinc. Aluminum alloys are often lightweight and durable, making it suitable for producing aircraft parts and packaging materials.

  • Copper Alloys: The parent metal is copper alloyed with either zinc to form brass, or alloyed with tin to form bronze. Brass is applied musical instruments, plumbing materials, and fasteners. Bronze are often applied in statues and bearings.

  • Titanium Alloys: The base metal is titanum combined with elements like aluminum, vanadium, or molybdenum. Titanum alloy is popular for its great strength-to-weight ratio. They are also highly corrosion resistant, and compartible with living cells. They are widely used in biocompatibility, making them crucial in medical implants. They are also applied in aerospace, and phone hardware. 

You can read on the definitions of technology here.

  • Nickel Alloys: The primary element is nickel alloyed with elements like chromium, molybdenum, and copper. Nickel alloys are designed for extreme heat, high-stress, high corrosion resistance, and durability. They are applicable in aerospace, chemical processing, marine engineering and power generation.

  • Gold Alloys: Gold is often mixed with copper, silver, nickel or zinc to improve its hardness, durability and color, forming yellow gold, white gold, red gold,.pink gold and green gold. They are often used in the manufacture of jeweleries and fashion materials. 

Please read interesting facts about gold here.

  • Solder: These are alloys with low-melting point. A typical example is the lead-tin alloy (soft solder) used to join metal parts within electronic board.

  • Amalgams: These are alloys that contain mercury. Examples include sodium amalgam (NaHg), zinc amalgam and dental amalgam.

  • Memory Alloys: These are alloys that can return to their original shape when heated. Examples include nitinol (Nickel and Titanium), Copper-Aluminium-Nickel alloy and Iron-Manganese-Silicon alloy.

Please read on metals and their characteristics here.

 


Alloys, Composition and Uses


The table below shows various alloys, their component elements and uses.

 

Alloys Composition Use
Brass Copper (60%-90%) and Zinc (10%-40%) Door handles, welding rods, and bullet cartridges
Bronze Copper (75%-90%) and Tin (10%-25%) Decoration, statues, ornaments, bells, chains, and socket connectors
Steel Iron (98%-99.9%) and Carbon (0.02%-2.1%) General structural work, bolt, nuts, making of tools, metal pipes and tanks
Stainless Steel Iron (about 80%), Chromium (18%) and Nickel (1%) Cutlery, surgical instruments, kitchen utensils, food machinery
Solder Tin (50-75%), Lead (25-50%) Joining (or soldering) electrical wires, conductors and metal pipes
Duralumin Aluminum (95%), Copper (4%), and Mg/Mn (0.5%) Aircraft, truck wheels, compressor rings, sport car rims 
Nichrome Nickel (60%), Chromium (40%) Heated parts of electrical appliances
Amalgam Mercury (50%), Silver, Tin, Copper Filling dental cavities
Magnalium Aluminum (95%), Magnesium (5%) Parts of aircraft and fireworks
Gun metal Copper, Tin and Zinc Guns, valves, gears
Pewter Tin (85%-99%), Copper, and Antimony Kitchenware, decorative items, and souvenirs

 

Please read the continuation of this topic here.

Please read basic science scheme of work for jss1 first term here.

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Amazing facts in Basic Science

According to scientific research, if the first tear drop comes from the right eye, it’s tears of joy. If it comes from the left eye, then it is as a result of pain

Dentistry is the oldest profession in the world. This is considered true because a research conducted by the University of Bologna, Italy on a 14,000-year-old skull found that one rotten tooth in the jaw had been deliberately scoured and scraped with a dental tool

Scientific research has it that the human nose can distinguish more than a trillion different odors

Tiger fur and skin - Len Academy

Tigers have striped fur. So also is their skin

Red-Billed Quelea - Len Academy

The most common wild bird in the world is native to Africa, and it's the red-billed quelea with a population estimated to be around 1.5 billion

Of all animals, mosquitoes hold the record of killing most humans annually. They are responsible for the deaths of 725,000 - 1,000,000 persons yearly

Antibiotics fights and kills bacteria. However, they do nothing to a virus

All insects have six legs. However, dragonfly has six legs but can't walk

The chin is defined as the protruding part of the face below the mouth, formed by the apex of the lower lip. It is shown below:

Chin - Len Academy

Interestingly, humans are the only animals with chin

Cranberries - Len Academy

Ripe cranberries will bounce like a ball. For this reason, they are nicknamed 'bounceberries'. They will also float in water


Notable points in Basic Science

We have six classes of food. These are:

  1. Carbohydrates

  2. Proteins

  3. Fats and Oils

  4. Vitamins

  5. Mineral Salts

  6. Water

In humans, roughages are not classified as one of the classes of food. This is so because they aren't digested. Instead, roughages facilitate the movement of bowels in the large intestine (colon); and for this reason, they can become useful in treating constipation.

Food refers to anything that is ingested by living organisms, giving them nutrients and thus enabling them to stay alive.

As an instance, 99% of a panda's diet is bamboo. In this case, bamboo is considered as food to a panda since it provides a source of nutrient and keeps it alive. This is shown in the image below:

Panda eating bamboo - Len Academy

Please read more on food here

The only process in nature that actively enriches our atmosphere with oxygen is photosynthesis. Every other process like respiration, burning and combustion takes away oxygen from it. In addition, they introduce carbon(IV)oxide (CO2) into the atmosphere.

Photosynthesis is also the only process that takes away carbon(IV)oxide (CO2) from the atmosphere.

Photosynthesis is defined as a process by which green plants manufacture food by utilizing carbon(IV)oxide and water in the presence of sunlight.

Oxygen is given off as a by-product of photosynthesis. In regards to this, it is recommended that each person plants a tree.

Matter is composed of particles which can be:

  1. Tightly packed together (as seen in solids).

  2. Loosely packed together (as seen in liquids).

  3. Completely separated (as seen in gases).

The movement of the particles of matter is a function of the overall kinetic energy present in them. You can think of kinetic energy as energy in motion.

An increase in the particles' vibrational, rotational or translational motion will imply an increase in temperature while a decrease in the particles motion (vibrational, rotational and translational) will mean a decrease in temperature. Based on this knowledge, we can therefore define temperature as the measure of the average kinetic energy possessed by the particles of matter.

You can read on the concept of matter here

Intelligence Quotient (IQ) is a score derived from a set of standardized tests developed to measure a person's cognitive abilities in relation to their age group.

IQ may also be defined as the ratio of mental age (MA) to chronological age (CA) multiplied by 100.

Below are some formulas pertaining Intelligence Quotient:

  • IQ = MA x 100 ÷ CA

  • MA = Mental age

  • CA = Chronological age

  • IQ above 100 = Brilliance

  • IQ that equals 100 = Average

  • IQ below 100 = Below Average