Question

Which of the following is an example of a non-ferrous metal?
A. Nickel
B. Cobalt
C. Copper
D. Iron ore

Answer 1

Hint: There is a ferrous metal and non-ferrous metal. In metallurgy, the metal or an alloy that does not contain appreciable amounts of iron is called a non-ferrous metal.

Complete step-by-step solution:
Non –ferrous metals are costlier than ferrous metals because of their desirable properties such as less weight (e.g. aluminum), high conductivity (e.g. copper), and resistance to corrosion (e.g. zinc). Non-ferrous metals are all pure metals except iron (Fe). Some of the important non-ferrous metals are aluminum, copper, nickel, lead, tin, zinc, titanium, and alloys such as brass. Exotic or rare metals such as cobalt, tungsten, mercury, bismuth, beryllium, cerium, indium, cadmium, niobium, germanium, lithium, gallium, tantalum, vanadium, selenium, tellurium, and zirconium are non-ferrous. Precious metals like gold, silver, and platinum are also non-ferrous. The electrolysis process is usually used to refine the non-ferrous metals. Non-ferrous scrap metals are usually recycled due to their extensive use. The production of new metals often uses the secondary materials in a scrap which are vital to the metallurgical industries. Non-ferrous metals are used for residential, commercial, and industrial purposes. The properties of the cast and wrought forms of the same metal or alloy may differ. The first metals used by humans for metallurgy were non-ferrous metals. Copper was the first metal when it was forged. Copper was soft enough, it could be melted in a crucible and it was soft enough to be fashioned into various objects by cold forging.

Thus, option (C) is correct.

Note: Few non-ferrous metals are also used in the iron and steel industries. For example, wolframite, pyrolusite, and chromite are used in making ferrous alloys and bauxite is used as a flux for blast furnaces.