Pewter is an alloy of tin, lead, and brass.

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Tin, lead, and copper
• D. Tin, zinc, and lead

Answer: (A)

Pewter is a tin-based alloy whose properties are tuned by adding small amounts of other metals. The metalist’s goal is to make the alloy flow better when cast, be easier to work, and achieve the right hardness and color. Historically, lead was added to tin to improve castability and ductility, and a copper-containing component was often included to adjust strength and appearance. Calling the additional metal “brass” is a way to refer to a copper-containing partner in the mix, since brass itself is copper plus zinc. So describing pewter as an alloy of tin, lead, and brass captures the idea of a tin base with lead and a copper-containing alloy in the blend. Modern pewter often moves away from lead and uses other metals, but the general concept remains: tin is the base, with lead and another metal (like copper) in the mix.