---
title: "A materials scientist examines schematic sections of two solid samples. One sample is pure \\(\\text{Cu}\\), and the other is bronze, a substitutional alloy composed primarily of \\(\\text{Cu}\\) with some \\(\\text{Sn}\\).  Which statement correctly identifies the bronze sample and explains how its electrical conductivity compares with that of pure \\(\\text{Cu}\\)?"
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url: "https://nerd-notes.com/ubq/119383/"
date_modified: "2026-08-19T12:40:05+00:00"
---

# A materials scientist examines schematic sections of two solid samples. One sample is pure \(\text{Cu}\), and the other is bronze, a substitutional alloy composed primarily of \(\text{Cu}\) with some \(\text{Sn}\).

Which statement correctly identifies the bronze sample and explains how its electrical conductivity compares with that of pure \(\text{Cu}\)?

A materials scientist examines schematic sections of two solid samples. One sample is pure \(\text{Cu}\), and the other is bronze, a substitutional alloy composed primarily of \(\text{Cu}\) with some \(\text{Sn}\).

Which statement correctly identifies the bronze sample and explains how its electrical conductivity compares with that of pure \(\text{Cu}\)?

![Create a grayscale particulate diagram of two equal rectangular solid samples side by side. At the top, a legend maps a small open circle to a \(\text{Cu}\) atom and a slightly larger gray circle to a \(\text{Sn}\) atom. The left rectangle is labeled I and contains exactly eight small open circles in two straight rows of four, with equal horizontal and vertical spacing. The right rectangle is labeled II and contains eight occupied lattice sites in the same two-row arrangement: upper row open, gray, open, open; lower row open, open, gray, open. Thus, the right panel has exactly six open and two gray circles, with gray circles centered at substitutional lattice positions rather than interstitial spaces. Keep all particles separate but closely spaced; draw no bonds, arrows, electron symbols, or motion lines. Use a bare white background and thin black borders. No other particles, labels, text, or annotations appear.](https://nerd-notes.com/wp-content/uploads/ubq-frq-generated/stem-fig-1-1787143204-Jd11DE.jpg)

- **A.** Figure I represents bronze, and bronze has lower electrical conductivity because substitutional atoms scatter the mobile electrons.
- **B.** Figure II represents bronze, and bronze has lower electrical conductivity because the substituted \(\text{Sn}\) atoms disrupt the regular lattice and increase scattering of mobile electrons.
- **C.** Figure II represents bronze, and bronze has higher electrical conductivity because the added \(\text{Sn}\) atoms supply additional mobile electrons.
- **D.** Figure II represents bronze, and bronze has the same electrical conductivity because both samples contain delocalized electrons.

*The answer key and step-by-step explanation are available to logged-in users at https://nerd-notes.com/ubq/119383/*