Question

As the impurity concentration (in solid solution) of a metal is increased, the tensile and yield strengths______.

Answer 1

Increasing impurity concentration in a metal generally results in enhanced tensile and yield strengths due to the increased obstruction to dislocation movement.

Step-by-step explanation:

As the impurity concentration (in solid solution) of a metal is increased, the tensile and yield strengths generally increase. This is because impurities can act as obstacles to dislocation movement, which is a common mechanism for plastic deformation in metals. Increased obstruction to dislocation movement makes deformation more difficult, thereby enhancing the tensile and yield strengths of the metal. However, it is important to note that beyond a certain concentration, the addition of impurities may lead to brittleness or other undesirable properties.