Question

Brass is an alloy of zinc and copper. In brass, zinc atoms with a radius of 0.133 nm have replaced some of the copper atoms, which have a radius of 0.128 nm. What type of defect is it?

Answer 1

Answer: Substitutional Impurity

Explanation:

Substitutional impurity is a defect that occurs when a non-matrix atom replaces a matrix atom as did the zinc atoms in brass did to some copper atoms. These non-matrix atoms will then be called substitutional impurity atoms.

For this to happen, the non-matrix atoms have to be close in size to the matrix atom that they are replacing which in general means within a range of 15%.