alloys

bronze: copper and tin

• resistant to corrosion
• tough
• ship propellers, statues, decorations

brass: copper and zinc

• hard (but still workable)
• can be hammered into sheets
• can be pressed into intricate shapes
• musical (brass) instruments 
• doorknobs

often alloyed with

silver (e.g. electrum)

• coins (first metal coins were made of electrum)
• ancient drinking vessels

copper (e.g. rose gold)

• specialised jewellery

zinc

• jewellery; more durable

steel: mainly iron and carbon

high-carbon steel: (1.5% carbon)

• strong, but brittle
• likely to shatter

low-carbon steel: (0.5% carbon)

• soft and easily shaped
• less likely to shatter

high-alloy steels:

• cooking utensils, cutlery
• stainless steel: strong chromium oxide layer, also contains nickel
• hard, strong, resistant to corrosion