Final answer:
Brass, a copper and zinc alloy, is used for various high-temperature applications and is significant for its historical and modern-day uses, including its role in musical instruments.
Step-by-step explanation:
Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc known for its malleability and acoustic properties, which make it especially useful for musical instruments. This alloy and others, such as bronze—a copper and tin alloy—have applications that take advantage of their superior properties compared to pure metals. For high-temperature applications, the characteristic malleability of brass and its lower melting point than bronze makes it suitable for use in furnace tubes, lighting tubes, and melting crucibles. The historical significance of these copper alloys is evident as bronze, dating back to at least 2400 B.C., played a significant role in advancing human technology during the Bronze Age, leading to a wider use of metals for weapons, tools, and decorative items.