Metals

The study of metals in a direct view of the history of mankind, its culture and growth
The discovery of metals and their use had minimized the work load of man and
revolutionary changes occurred in agriculture and industry through production of new
equipments.
The metals such as iron, copper aluminum gold and silver are used in day to day life
Some of them are occurred as compounds and others are occurred as free in our
nature.

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Common Metals

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Metals

Uses

Iron (Fe)

Machines, bars, making steels

Rods, wires, utensils, furniture

Aluminum(Al)

Antennas, roofs, reflectors

Ornaments, crackers, packing foils
Making alloys such as duralumin, magnallium

Gold(Au)

Ornaments, Gold plating (electroplating)

Silver(Ag)

Ornaments , Electronic circuits

Electroplating, conductors, Utensils

Copper(Cu)

Electronic circuits, roofs

Manufacturing alloys such as brass

Zinc(Zn)

Dry cell, For galvanizing

Manufacturing alloys - brass, gun metail

Chromium(Cr)

For galvanizing
Manufacturing alloys - stainless steel, chrome steel

Nickel(Ni)

Manufacturing alloys - stainless steel, alnico

Nickel plating, tinsheet

Tin(Sn)

Manufacturing alloys like solder, tin plating

Lead(Pb)

Making storage cells, metal balls in fishing nets

For internal use only

General characteristics
Hardness
Most of metals are hard metal, how ever there are quite few metals which are soft
Lithium, sodium and potassium are soft metals

Iron, aluminum, copper etc are hard metals

Electrical conductivity
Metals are conductors of electricity. The ability of a substance to let electricity pass through is known as electrical
conductivity

Silver is the best electrical conductor among metals

Copper ,aluminum are also good conductors of electricity

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General characteristics
Thermal Conductivity
Metals are thermal conductors and they have high metallic points. The ability to conduct heat is an important
property of metals . This property is known as thermal conductivity.
silver is the best thermal conductor among metals
Aluminum, copper etc also posses comparatively
high thermal conductivity
Because of the high metallic point and the thermal conductivity, metallic vessels are used for cooking.

Metallic lustre
The surface newly formed when metals are cut , has a shining appearance. This property of metals are called
metallic lustre.
All metals have not equal shiny appearance

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General characteristics
Malleability
Metals can be heated into thin sheets by hammering . This property is known as malleability.
gold is the best malleable metal
One gram of gold can be heated into sheets within are of 6.7
square feet and can be drawn into a wire of about 2 km in length
Aluminum has also a high malleability. By using the malleability
of aluminum, aluminum foil is used to wrap chocolate and sweets

Ductility
Metals can be drawn into thin fine wires. This property is known as ductility.
Platinum is most ductile metal
The filaments of electric bulbs are made of tungsten. Tungsten can be
Drawn into fine wires . Hence it is used to make filament

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General characteristics
Sonority
The ability of metals to make sound when tapped with a hard material is known as sonority.
Metals are used to make instruments like cymbals and bells
because they produce sound when hit with an object

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For internal use only