alloy is more durable... as well as cheaper.
The metals silver, copper and nickel are elements. It is brass that is an alloy, and copper and zinc are what make it up.
In a sterling silver alloy, silver is the solute and copper is the solvent. Silver is the primary component of the alloy, while copper is used to strengthen the silver and improve its durability.
An example of a substitutional alloy is sterling silver, which is a mixture of silver and copper. In this alloy, copper atoms replace some of the silver atoms in the crystal lattice structure, resulting in a material with improved strength and durability compared to pure silver.
No, sterling silver is an alloy containing copper to make the metal stronger. Thermal (and electrical) conductivity is highest to lowest as follows: Silver, sterling silver, copper, aluminum, then brass. The latter is an alloy of copper and zinc.
Alloy
Not even close, Nickel "silver" has no silver and is a copper alloy. It simply looks slightly like silver. Items might be silver plated though. Nickel silver, also called German silver, is an alloy of approximately 60% copper, 20% nickel and 20% zinc; it doesn't contain any silver. The nickel gives it a shiny, silver appearance.
The alloy you are referring to is likely known as silver sulfide, also known as argentite. It is formed when silver reacts with copper, lead, and sulfur, resulting in a silver sulfide compound.
Copper,Zinc and nickel
Mostly copper with some silver.
Is an alloy that consists of 97.5% pure silver, and the rest is probably copper.
When you mix copper and silver, you create an alloy called sterling silver. Sterling silver is typically made up of 92.5% silver and 7.5% copper. This combination gives the alloy strength while maintaining the desirable properties of silver, making it a popular choice for jewelry and other decorative items.
Silver and copper can form an alloy without bonding at the atomic level. When molten silver and copper are mixed together and then cooled, they can solidify and form a homogeneous solid solution, known as an intermetallic compound, where copper and silver atoms are uniformly distributed throughout the alloy.