The elements present in stainless steel are

Options

A. iron, copper and carbon
B. iron, copper and nickel
C. iron, copper and chromium
D. iron, chromium, carbon and nickel

Explanation

**Step-by-Step Solution:**

1. **Understanding Stainless Steel**:
- Stainless steel is an alloy, which means it is a homogeneous mixture of metals (and sometimes non-metals).

2. **Identifying the Base Metal**:
- The primary component of stainless steel is iron, as it is derived from steel, which is primarily an alloy of iron and carbon.

3. **Additional Elements in Stainless Steel**:
- To make stainless steel, additional elements are added to enhance its properties. The key elements added are:
- **Chromium**: At least 10.5% is required to provide corrosion resistance.
- **Nickel**: Typically makes up about 8-10% of the alloy, contributing to its strength and resistance to corrosion.
- **Carbon**: Usually present in small amounts, approximately 1.2%, which helps in strengthening the steel.

4. **Final Composition**:
- Therefore, the general composition of stainless steel includes:
- Iron
- Chromium
- Nickel
- Carbon

5. **Evaluating Options**:
- When presented with options, we check for the presence of these elements:
- Option A: Iron + Copper (Incorrect, as copper is not a component of stainless steel)
- Option B: Iron + Copper (Incorrect for the same reason)
- Option C: Iron + Copper (Again, incorrect)
- Option D: Iron + Chromium + Carbon + Nickel (Correct, as it includes all the necessary elements)

6. **Conclusion**:
- The correct answer is Option D, which includes Iron, Chromium, Carbon, and Nickel.

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