Which statement correctly distinguishes brass from bronze?

Which statement correctly distinguishes brass from bronze?

• A. Brass is copper and zinc; Bronze is copper and tin.
• B. Brass is copper and tin; Bronze is copper and zinc.
• C. Brass is aluminum alloy; Bronze is magnesium alloy.
• D. Brass is used for ropes; Bronze is used for insulation.

Answer: (A)

Copper alloys differ by the second element added. Brass is copper with zinc, which makes it more ductile and gives it a yellowish hue. Bronze is copper with tin, which hardens the metal and improves wear resistance. This is why the statement brass equals copper plus zinc and bronze equals copper plus tin is the correct distinction. The other options mix up the alloying elements or refer to different materials or uses, which don’t define these two alloys.

Copper alloys differ by the second element added. Brass is copper with zinc, which makes it more ductile and gives it a yellowish hue. Bronze is copper with tin, which hardens the metal and improves wear resistance. This is why the statement brass equals copper plus zinc and bronze equals copper plus tin is the correct distinction. The other options mix up the alloying elements or refer to different materials or uses, which don’t define these two alloys.