Kinds Of Metals
Learn about different Kinds Of Metals. Imagining life without metals is the modern day equivalent of imaging a world without the internet – it just wouldn’t be the same. Luckily for us, our ancestors have worked out various uses of different kinds of metal components. Since metals in their purest forms are not as useful as otherwise, it has taken humans several centuries to maximize utility out of these shiny elements. Chemists have experimented by creating alloys i.e. mixtures of different kinds of metal to meet the ever-changing needs of man over time.
Copper
According to some sources, copper has been used by man for over 11,000 years, and for good reason. Copper is one of the toughest kinds of metal which is also resistant to corrosion. It conducts both heat and electricity, it is easily joinable, and above all, this is extremely ductile in nature. Due to its abundance all over the world, copper has been cheaper than other metals with the same properties. Alloys of copper are used in many walks of life. Pipes and electrical cables are often made out of copper. Most motors that are used to run common household appliances are made almost entirely out of copper alloys as well.
Aluminum
One of the most abundant kinds of metal, Aluminum is commonly used due to the fact that has an extremely low density and a high level of strength. In most forms, aluminum can be polished to attain a shiny, reflective surface. You can find aluminum-based compounds in car and airplane bodies, cans, rockets, cooking utensils and foil. Since aluminum is an excellent conductor of electricity and it is relatively cheap, it is used in overhead power cables.
Silver
Despite contrary belief, silver, in its pure form, is much stronger than gold. Man had learned to separate silver from its lead component as many as five thousand years ago. Its ductility and malleability make silver one of the most desired and expensive kinds of metal out there. Silver is the best conductor of heat and electricity among all metals. Its uses include, but are not limited to jewelry, photography, coinage, zinc batteries and dental alloys.
Gold
Having served as a symbol of wealth way back to the times when recorded history began, gold is amongst the most precious kinds of metal. Unlike most other metals, it is not particularly chemically reactive in nature. However, gold is an extremely efficient conductor of heat and electricity. Due to its costly nature, the use of gold has been limited to niche products such as jewelry and limited edition coins.
Iron
Iron is the cheapest and arguably the most important out of all metals to man today. Ductile and soft, iron has been used by our ancestors for almost 6,000 years. It is an extremely reactive element and so it readily forms alloys with other kinds of metal elements. The most significant of these alloys is steel, which is the backbone of the construction industry all over the world. Iron is used in 95% of all metal alloys created all over the world.