Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc. Which option describes brass?

• A. A natural fibre.
• B. A type of solder.
• C. An alloy of copper and tin.
• D. An alloy of copper and zinc.

Answer: (D)

Brass is a metal alloy, meaning it combines two elements to achieve properties not found in a single metal. In brass, copper is the base metal and zinc is added. The result is a material with a distinct yellowish hue, improved strength and ductility, and good machinability compared with pure copper. These traits make brass useful for fittings, decorative hardware, and musical instrument parts. It is not a natural fibre, which would be a textile material. It is not a type of solder, since solder is a filler metal used to join pieces together, whereas brass itself is a structural metal alloy. It is also not an alloy of copper and tin—bronze is copper with tin. Therefore brass is an alloy of copper and zinc.