All elements can be either metal, non-metals, or metalloids. It is important to know whether a particular element is a metal or nonmetal. Examples of metals include gold, silver, aluminum, nickel, and more. Examples of non-metals include gases like Oxygen, Nitrogen, Hydrogen. But there are also metalloids, like Boron, Silicon, or Arsenic.
They all have different characteristics, on which their use is highly dependent.
In this lesson, we will learn about METALS. We are going to find out:
When freshly prepared, polished, or fractured, metal is a material that shows a lustrous appearance and conducts electricity and heat relatively well. Metals are typically malleable (they can be hammered into thin sheets) or ductile (can be drawn into wires).
Metals are widely used. There are so many objects around us made of metals, or constitute a metal. Such objects include jewelry, cutlery, wires, vehicles, buildings, and so on.
A metal can refer to an element, compound, or alloy that is a good conductor of both electricity and heat.
An alloy is an admixture of metals or a metal combined with one or more other elements. For example, combining the metallic elements gold and copper produces red gold, gold and silver becomes white gold, and silver combined with copper produces sterling silver.
Some metals are found in the Earth's crust. More often, metals found in nature are mixed with rocks and minerals. When metal is mixed into rocks and minerals, it's called ore. Ore is extracted from the earth through mining. Typically, this is done through two basic techniques: sub-surface (underground) and surface mining. Then, it is treated or refined, often via smelting, to extract valuable metals. The most valuable ore deposits contain metals crucial to industry and trade, like copper, gold, and iron. Typically, this is done through two basic techniques: sub-surface (underground) and surface mining.
The following are the most common metals:
Gold (Chemical symbol: Au)
Gold is a chemical element, a dense lustrous yellow precious metal, with the chemical symbol Au. Gold has several qualities that have made it exceptionally valuable throughout history. It is mostly used to make jewelry, medals and awards, golden coins, it is also used in dentistry and medicine, electronics, and computers, and much more.
Silver (Chemical symbol: Ag)
Silver is a chemical element with the symbol Ag and atomic number 47. It is used for jewelry and silver tableware, where appearance is important. Silver is used for making mirrors, as it is the best reflector of visible light, although it tarnishes with time. It is also used in dental alloys, electrical contacts, and batteries.
Iron (Chemical symbol: Fe)
Iron is a chemical element with the symbol Fe and atomic number 26. It is a metal that belongs to the first transition series and group 8 of the periodic table. It is, by mass, the most common element on Earth, right in front of oxygen, forming much of Earth's outer and inner core. Even if it rusts easily, yet it is the most important of all metals. 90% of all metal that is refined today is iron.
Copper (Chemical symbol: Cu)
Copper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu and atomic number 29. It is a soft, malleable, and ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. A freshly exposed surface of pure copper has a pinkish-orange color. Most copper is used in electrical equipment such as wiring and motors, cooking pots and pans, pipes and tubes, automobile radiators, and many others.
Nickel (Chemical symbol: Ni)
Nickel is a chemical element with the symbol Ni and atomic number 28. It is a silvery-white lustrous metal with a slight golden tinge. Most nickel production is used for alloying elements, coatings, batteries, and some other uses, such as kitchen wares, mobile phones, medical equipment, transport, buildings, power generation, and jewelry. The use of nickel is dominated by the production of ferronickel for stainless steel (66%).
Aluminum (Chemical symbol: Al)
Aluminum is a chemical element with the symbol Al and atomic number 13. Aluminum has a density lower than those of other common metals, at approximately one-third that of steel. Aluminum visually resembles silver, both in its color and in its great ability to reflect light. Aluminum is used in a huge variety of products including cans, foils, kitchen utensils, window frames, beer kegs, and airplane parts.
Mercury (Chemical symbol: Hg)
Mercury is a chemical element with the symbol Hg and atomic number 80. It is commonly known as quicksilver and was formerly named hydrargyrum. Mercury is the only metallic element that is liquid at standard conditions for temperature and pressure. Mercury can be used to make thermometers, barometers, and other scientific instruments. Mercury conducts electricity and is used to make silent, position-dependent switches. Mercury vapor is used in streetlights, fluorescent lamps, and advertising signs.
Titanium (Chemical symbol: Ti)
Titanium is a chemical element with the symbol Ti and atomic number 22. It is a lustrous transition metal with a silver color, low density, and high strength. Titanium is resistant to corrosion in seawater, aqua regia, and chlorine. It is used to make jewelry, prosthetics, tennis rackets, goalie masks, scissors, bicycle frames, surgical tools, mobile phones, and other high-performance products.
Typical physical properties of metals are:
Some metals have properties that are not typical. For example:
The electrons that are farthest from the nucleus give the metal its shine. Light reflects or bounces off these outer electrons. This makes the metal appear shiny. This shiny appearance on the surface of some metals is called luster.
