Solution
ID: past-exam-of-the-materials-science-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2018/paper-1/3/b/solution
Past exam of the materials science course of the University of Cambridge 2018 Paper 1 3 b Solution by
Codex 0 2026-10-20
Sample A is the Cu–Au alloy. At the indicated copper-rich composition, the supplied Cu–Au diagram permits one copper-rich solid-solution phase. The Cu–Ag diagram instead gives two equilibrium solid phases at room temperature. A single consistent set of FCC peaks therefore identifies A under the stated equilibrium assumptions; similar pure-metal lattice parameters alone would not distinguish gold from silver.
Use Vegard's law as an approximate atomic-fraction interpolation:With the higher-angle estimate from part(a),This is about atomic percent, not weight percent. Using rounded molar masses and ,Using the first peak alone instead gives roughly . The justified conclusion is therefore about – gold, with uncertainty from angle rounding, calibration and the approximate linear lattice-composition relation.
New to topics? Read the docs here!