Everything You Need To Know To Find The Best Metal Use

by Brown, LeMay, Bursten, Murphy, and Woodward

The line that divides metals from nonmetals in the periodic table crosses the p block diagonally. As a result, the differences between metallic and nonmetallic properties are evident within each group, even though all members of each group have the same valence electron configuration. The p block is the only portion of the periodic table where we encounter the inert-pair effect. Moreover, as with the s-block elements, the chemistry of the lightest member of each group in the p block differs sharply from that of its heavier congeners but is similar to that of the element immediately below and to the right of it in the next group. Thus diagonal similarities in chemistry are seen across the p block.

A nonmetal is a chemical element that mostly lacks metallic attributes. Physically, nonmetals tend to be highly volatile (easily vaporized), have low elasticity, and are good insulators of heat and electricity; chemically, they tend to have high ionization energy and electronegativity values, and gain or share electrons when they react with other elements or compounds. Seventeen elements are generally classified as nonmetals; most are gases (hydrogen, helium, nitrogen, oxygen, fluorine, neon, chlorine, argon, krypton, xenon and radon); one is a liquid (bromine); and a few are solids (carbon, phosphorus, sulfur, selenium, and iodine).

As you study the periodic trends in properties and the reactivity of the elements in groups 13–18, you will learn how “cobalt blue” glass, rubies, and sapphires are made and why the US military became interested in using boron hydrides as rocket fuels but then abandoned its effort. You will also discover the source of diamonds on Earth, why silicon-based life-forms are likely to exist only in science fiction, and why most compounds with N–N bonds are potentially explosive. You will also learn why phosphorus can cause a painful and lethal condition known as “phossy jaw” and why selenium is used in photocopiers.

Have you ever wondered what the world would be like if we didn’t discover metals? Well, for starters, it would be a dark and bleak place because there would be no power plants to supply electricity to cities and communities. There would be no buildings taller than a few stories or with intricate architecture, and if there are, even low-magnitude earthquakes could easily demolish them. Transportation would be lengthy and arduous because no mechanical vehicles, particularly planes and ships, would be present. In short, we would all be stuck in the Stone Age and The Flintstones would be our favorite TV show or perhaps not because television wouldn’t be invented, too.

The discovery of metals indeed revolutionized many things, particularly science and technology, benefitting the world’s industries and continuing to create new ones. Despite our total reliance on this extremely valuable material, only few of us have sufficient knowledge of it. It helps to know a thing or two about metals, especially if your work or business involves their use. Here are some information about metals that you may find useful in the future.

Classifications and Uses of Metals

There are 118 elements in the Periodic Table and 91 of them are metals. Not all of these metals, however, have practical uses. In fact, only a handful are a staple for major industrial applications. This is due to the vast differences in their properties. To identify the metals that have many useful properties, experts classified them into six different groups.

Commonly Used Metals and Their Properties

Some metals have more uses than others and that’s mainly because they possess more useful properties. When we say properties, we refer to the qualities of the metals that allow them to react to physical and chemical changes in their environment. Before we identify the different types of metals and their uses, let’s have a quick look at the basic properties of metals.

The usefulness of a metal or a metal alloy depends on the types and levels of property it possesses. Those metals whose properties are essential to an extensive variety of practical applications are usually the most extensively utilized. Here are the most widely used metals, their special characteristics, and their applications.

Having an idea what metal you will be using for your project will help increase your chance of success, simply because you know what properties you can utilize and how to make the most of them. To learn more about your choices, seek advice from one of the leading copper, bronze, and brass suppliers in New York such as Rotax Metals. They are also the best place to look for the metal supplies you need because they have their own foundry and they have been in the business for almost a century.