Final answer:
Sterling silver is an alloy, which is a type of solid-solid solution composed predominantly of silver with copper. Alloys are homogeneous mixtures of metals at the atomic level.
Step-by-step explanation:
Sterling silver is an example of a solid-solid solution known as an alloy, which is a combination of metals. Specifically, sterling silver is an alloy predominantly composed of silver, with copper added to it. Alloys like sterling silver display the properties of a solid solution where the metals are mixed at the atomic level to form a single homogeneous phase.
The process of creating an alloy, such as sterling silver, is analogous to the reaction where a copper wire is placed in a solution containing a dissolved silver salt, resulting in the reduction of silver ions to elemental silver. Over time, with alloys, this creates a uniform distribution of the constituent metals throughout the solid.