What is Metal?
Have you ever seen metals? If yes, you must observe something like this:
Metal
A metal is a type of solid substance that is usually hard, and shiny which when freshly polished shows lustre. They are minerals like iron or lead that are found underground in the rocks. These are separated from the rocks using heat.
Metals are good conductors of electricity as well as heat which makes them useful for various purposes in utensils and electrical wires. Apart from this, they have a good shine so are used to make jewellery. Metals also have high reflectivity of light.
What Are Metals Made up of?
Metals are made up of atomic materials such as electrons, neutrons, and protons. Atoms of different elements can be distinguished from one another by the number of protons they contain. Metals comprise about 25% of the earth's crust. It was found about 11,000 years ago.
Primary Types of Metals
Metals can be categorised according to their physical as well as chemical properties.
The different types of metals are as follows.
Iron
Iron is a highly abundant and immensely popular type of metal. It is used in making different products such as cookware because its porous surface prevents the food from sticking, and thus the cooking process is completed in a good manner. In heavy machinery also, iron is used to make machines with heavy bases.
Iron
Aluminium
It is widespread metal on planet Earth and originates from or derived from its ore called bauxite. It has different properties such as being durable, lightweight and is corrosion free, or resistant to corrosion, and a good conductor of electricity.
Aluminium
Copper
Copper is an important metal and does not occur in nature in its pure form. It has excellent heat conductivity. Copper reacts with the oxygen present in the air and thus further leads to corrosion. It turns green in colour and stops corroding further. It is reddish in colour in normal form.
Copper
Potassium
The potassium element is denoted by the symbol K. Iit is a silvery-white soft metal, waxy in nature and it can be cut with a knife easily. It has a low melting boiling point, lower density than water, and active chemical properties. Potassium is present in igneous rocks. Potassium is required by all plants and animals.
Potassium
Gold
Gold is a metal element that has a symbolic representation of Au and the atomic number is 79. It is a precious metal and is used in making jewellery and is one of the monetary metals. It is solid at room temperature with high density, has a great softness, and is very bright.
Gold
Things Made up of Metal
In everyday life, we use numerous things made up of metal. These include utensils, pencils, nail cutters, foil paper, wires, jewellery, bolts and nuts, gates, coins, alloy wheels, tools, cutlery, car parts, metal windows, and doors. Also, mercury is used in the thermometer and helps to check the temperature. Sodium and titanium are used in atomic energy in science projects. Lead, which is an important metal, is used in making car batteries.
Interesting Facts about Metals
Metals can be recycled numerous times and they will not lose their properties.
Metals form positively charged ions called cations through the loss of electrons.
The most abundant metal in the universe is Iron followed by magnesium.
Vanadium is the most beautiful metal of all.
Rhodium is the most expensive metal on the planet.
Summary
Metals are good conductors of heat and electricity. They are elastic in nature and are known as metalloids as they have properties of both metals and nonmetals. They can be hammered into sheets or wires. Metals come from the earth's crust and are found in ores, minerals, and rocks.
FAQs on What is Metal Made of?
1. What are the properties of metals?
Metals are ductile, hard, and shiny in nature. They are good conductors of electricity. Metals can be hammered into thin sheets; they are malleable in nature. Apart from this, metals are ductile and can be drawn into wires. Metals have great strength; they can hold heavyweights, and they are very strong and tough. Metals have high melting and high boiling points. Metals are good conductors of heat and thus are used in making utensils. Metals possess a high range of densities as compared to non-metals.
2. Which metal is found in a thermometer?
Mercury is the only metal that is in a liquid state at room temperature. It has high expansion properties which is why it is used in thermometers. Moreover, mercury is a metal that can flow but it doesn't stick to the glass and thus can give proper readings for the temperature of the human body. It has a high coefficient of expansion. Mercury thermometers are used in laboratories, and households, and are also used for industrial purposes. While measuring temperature, mercury expands and contracts; thus body temperatures can be read from the scale. For all these reasons, it is the only metal found in thermometers.
3. Mention the names of metals used for making jewellery.
The metals used for making jewellery include gold and platinum. Gold is an expensive metal; gold jewellery is very expensive to buy as gold is a precious metal. Also, people buy gold jewellery as an investment for the future as the price of this metal increases day by day. On the other hand, platinum is even more costly than gold. Both these metals are highly lustrous and resistant to corrosion. Also, these metals are unreactive so they do not tarnish. They are highly malleable and ductile which is why they are used in making jewellery.