Contrary to popular conception, bronze is not an elemental metal but an amalgamation of several different metals. Strictly defined, bronze is an alloy of copper. Copper is generally mixed with zinc and tin to produce bronze, using primitive mixing techniques. In the early days of modern human civilization, bronze was used as the primary metal of construction and arms. The so-called Bronze Age ended abruptly around 1200 B.C., when the redistribution of populations made the importing of tin difficult. Prices for bronze metals went through the roof, and civilizations were forced to develop alternative metals to feed their burgeoning cities. Thus, the Bronze Age finally made way for the Iron Age. Bronze, like many copper-based alloys, has a relatively low melting point. Its anti-corrosive properties make it a perfect metal from which to construct weaponry and armor. Roman army officers often carried bronze swords, which were harder and more durable than the iron swords given to foot soldiers. Bronze is a relatively heavy metal, although it can be made more buoyant by adding aluminum to the melted copper alloy admixture. Bronze has found a myriad of uses in modern times. The pennies of England, Australia, Canada, and the United States all contain large quantities of bronze. The Olympic Games awards a Bronze Medal for all third-place contestants. Bronze also finds applications in a host of industrial technologies, including as a conductor in electronic circuit boards. Chemists can now alter and precisely compose bronze alloys for highly specified engineering purposes. | 
