Final answer:
The advantage of adding tin to copper is to harden the pure copper, creating a stronger and more durable alloy known as bronze, which is not more electrically conductive or malleable than pure copper.
Step-by-step explanation:
The advantage of adding tin to copper is that it hardens the pure copper. This alloying process results in a metal, commonly known as bronze, which is harder than pure copper. The addition of tin to copper creates an alloy with increased strength, making bronze ideal for a variety of applications including weapons, tools, and various decorative objects that benefit from bronze's improved castability and hardness compared to pure copper.
It is important to note that this process of creating an alloy by adding tin to copper does not make the resulting material more electrically conductive or more malleable. In fact, pure copper has one of the highest levels of electrical conductivity compared to other non-precious metals and alloying it with tin decreases this property. The characterization of copper as a good choice for conducting wire is due to its high electrical conductivity and ductility, not because it is alloyed with tin.