Question

Name two non-ferrous metals.

Answer 1

Hint: A metal which includes alloys which does not contain iron in an abundant amount is called a non ferrous metal. Non ferrous metals are generally more costly than ferrous metal. Non ferrous metals are desirable because of properties like low weight, high conductivity, resistance to corrosion and non magnetic property.

Complete answer: All metals in their pure form are non ferrous elements except iron. All important non ferrous metals are as follows- aluminium, copper, zink, lead, nickel and tin. Silver, gold and platinum are some precious metals. Cobalt, mercury, cadmium, tungsten, gallium and lithium etc are some rare metals which are also non ferrous in nature. Generally non ferrous metals are refined by a process called electrolysis.

Copper and silver are two most important non ferrous metals.

Note: Ferrous means ferum which is a word for iron. In ferrous metals the base metal is iron metal. Ferrous metal consists of a major part of over all metals which are in use these days. Ferrous metals consist of many properties which are suitable in many different industries. Many alloying elements such as chromium, nickel, manganese may also be included in ferrous metals. These alloying elements give material properties to ferrous steels which make them widely used in engineering. Ferrous metals contain many properties like these metals are durable, great tensile strength,they are usually magnetic, they are recyclable and good conductors of electricity.