German-silver, also called nickel-silver, is an alloy made of copper, nickel, and zinc. It does not contain any silver, which is in contrast to its name that suggests its composition to be silver-based. German-silver is a white metal that is widely used in the manufacture of various decorative items, musical instruments, and cutlery.

Composition of German-silver:

German-silver is an alloy made of the following elements:

- Copper (Cu) - 60%
- Nickel (Ni) - 20%
- Zinc (Zn) - 20%

Explanation:

Copper is the primary constituent of german-silver, constituting 60% of its composition. It imparts good tensile strength, ductility, and conductivity to the alloy.

Nickel is added to german-silver to improve its hardness, strength, and corrosion resistance. It also enhances the silvery appearance of the alloy, making it look more like silver.

Zinc is added to german-silver to improve its fluidity during casting. It also helps in reducing the melting point of the alloy, making it easier to work with.

Silver is not present in german-silver. Despite its name, german-silver does not contain any silver at all. The name "german-silver" was given to this alloy because of its silvery appearance, which resembles that of silver.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, German-silver is an alloy made of copper, nickel, and zinc. It does not contain any silver, which is in contrast to its name. The addition of nickel and zinc to copper imparts desirable properties to the alloy, making it widely used in various applications.