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Q: Steel is an alloy made up of iron and carbon why is iron considered the solvent and carbon is the solute?
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What is an example of a solution in which the solute and solvent are not easily distinguishable?

Non-newtonian fluids would fit this description. A non-newtonian fluid is a combination between a solid and a liquid. An example would be water mixed with cornstarch. A. solution is form when solute is dissolve in solvent. it is not necessary that solution is always form between solid in liquid or liquid in liquid. there are some examples of solution that are not liquid. e.g solution of Gas (solute) in Gas (solvent) EXAMPLE Air. solution of solid (solute) in solid (solvent) EXAMPLE carbon in iron or steel. solution of solid (solute) in gas (solvent) EXAMPLE dust particles in smoke.


When Chromium is alloyed with steel what type of steel is produce?

It depends on the chromium content. If it is 13% or more, it creates stainless steel. Any less then that would still be considered as high carbon, tool steel, etc.


Why does iron is considered the solvent and carbon is the solute in steel?

It doesn't "dissolve" in the chemical sense of the term, but is does melt, disperse, and form a mixture with molten iron. When the iron first becomes a solid from a liquid (at least above 1130'C), it is in the form of austenite, which is a face-centred cubic structure of iron. The structure leaves holes big enough for the smaller carbon atoms to fit in. However, when the austenite is quenched and forced to cool quickly, the iron goes through a eutectic transformation and becomes a body-centred cubic structure. This leaves no hole for the carbon atom to fit into, and so the carbon atoms are squeezed by the structure, causing a lot of tension and making the steel hard and brittle. The carbon atoms cannot be compressed, so they force the lattice to become tetrahedral instead of cubic. Hope this helped.


Does carbon react with steel?

Carbon react with iron forming carbides in steel.


Can solids mixtures be solutions?

Yes. A solution consists of a Solute - which is dissolved into another substance known as a Solvent.An example of a solid solution would be with steel (Carbon in Iron), and Alloys (eg. Bronze)