The lightest metal
When we say “metal,” we imagine a material that has high hardness and considerable weight. But there are metals in the world whose density is low, and for this reason they do not sink in water. Let's find out which metal is the lightest. This is what lithium is considered to be (twice lighter than water).
The lightest metal in the world has a density of 0.542 g/cm3. It is a representative of metals from the alkaline group, which have the highest chemical activity. In fact, in nature this material is a complex compound consisting of many elements. Under normal conditions, this lightest metal, having a silvery-white color, is very ductile and suitable for forging. Lithium melts at 181 degrees.
This metal has characteristics that distinguish materials of the alkaline group. However, it has its own peculiarity - when exposed to room temperature, it reacts poorly with oxygen or other substances. However, once it is heated, it interacts quite easily with acids and gases. If you heat the lightest metal to three hundred degrees, it will spontaneously ignite, and the flame will have a red-blue color.
Light material placed in kerosene is located on the surface of the liquid due to its low density. Therefore, it should not be stored in such a liquid, and for these purposes it is better to use mineral oil, paraffin, and petroleum ether.
Containers for storing lithium are tin cans, which are made with hermetically sealed lids. When working with lithium, it is important to wear personal protective equipment and follow safety instructions as this metal is toxic.
Lithium vapor can easily burn the respiratory system, so it is necessary to take care of respiratory protection.
Where is lithium used?
This metal is widely used in alloys. For example, when alloying aluminum, lithium is added, which reduces the density and improves the degree of elasticity of the alloy. Lithium hydroxide is used in the manufacture of alkaline batteries. Surely many of you are familiar with the term “lithium-ion battery”.
Ceramics based on lithium silicate and aluminate are used in the metallurgical industry and for the manufacture of military equipment. Lithium salts in the medical field successfully treat diseases associated with mental disorders, since lithium carbonate has the ability to stabilize human mood.
The textile, pharmaceutical and food industries use lithium compounds to make certain products. In combination with oxidizers, the metal is used to produce rocket fuel. Lithium nitrate is simply necessary to create pyrotechnics. The optical industry uses lithium fluoride. This metal is even used to produce glass of a certain grade.
How is lithium produced?
This material is made through a process that decomposes natural lithium compounds. Due to the considerable number of components included in the composition, this procedure is quite labor-intensive. As a result, per 1000 kilograms of raw materials obtained through mining, there are only twenty-one grams of lithium.
To decompose lithium compounds, three methods are used - sulfate, lime, and sulfuric acid. The first and second are carried out by sintering ore with calcium oxide or potassium sulfate.
In this case, everything happens at a temperature of 250 to 300 degrees. After treating the resulting mass with water, the chlorination process is carried out. Finally, electrolysis of the mass is carried out using potassium or barium chloride.
The lithium deposited on the cathodes is taken from there for subsequent processing.
The third method is to dissolve the resulting raw material in sulfuric acid. Then everything is done exactly as described above. Once pure lithium is obtained, it is sent to various industries to make the required products.
Cutting-edge technology: what's even lighter than lithium?
Science does not stand still, giving industry more and more unique technologies. This is how scientists obtained a metal that is much lighter in weight than lithium. This metal is called “microlattis”. Thanks to its incredible lightness, you can place it on a dandelion without deforming the plant.
Despite its lightness, microlattis can withstand enormous loads and also restore its original shape when struck. Also, the material is a hundred times lighter than polystyrene. At the same time, its strength is at its best. Due to these characteristics, the metal is used in various fields - the automotive industry, the aerospace industry, the production of electrodes for batteries, etc.
Source: https://topkin.ru/best/nauka/samyj-legkij-metall/
Which metal is the lightest?
In the minds of many people, metals are associated with something heavy and solid. But at the same time, there are metal elements that are lighter than water and do not sink in it, but float on the surface. This occurs due to the large size of the atoms and the resulting low density. So which metal is the lightest? It is enough to look at the periodic table of Mendeleev to understand that this is lithium. It is almost twice as light as water.
Basic properties of lithium
The density of lithium is only 0.543 grams per cubic centimeter. The metal is part of the alkaline group, which is characterized by very high chemical activity. Therefore, in nature, lithium forms complex multi-element compounds that are part of rocks.
Moreover, lithium is the most inactive alkali metal, so it is quite stable when isolated in its pure form. The physical properties of the lightest metal on Earth are as follows: under normal conditions, a silvery-white metal, soft (can be cut with a knife), malleable and ductile.
Melting point - 181 degrees Celsius. Atomic mass - 6.941 grams per mole.
Chemical properties are characteristic of alkaline group metals. But lithium, unlike other alkaline elements, reacts slowly with oxygen and other substances at room temperature. But when heated, it reacts with gases, acids and bases. When heated to 300 degrees Celsius, lithium spontaneously ignites and burns with a red-blue flame. Unlike other elements of the alkaline group, it becomes covered with a stable oxide film and stops reacting with oxygen.
Lithium is not stored in kerosene, since due to its low density it floats on the surface. For long-term storage, use petroleum ether, paraffin, gasoline or mineral oil. Tin cans with hermetically sealed lids are used as containers.
Lithium is a toxic substance and, if it comes into contact with exposed skin, causes itching, irritation and burns, so special protective clothing must be used when working with it.
Lithium vapor burns the upper respiratory tract, so you need to take care of respiratory protection.
Lithium production technology
The production of the lightest metal in the world comes down to the decomposition of its natural compounds. This is a rather labor-intensive procedure due to the large number of components. lithium in mined raw materials averages 21 grams per ton. In industrial production, three methods of decomposition of lithium compounds are used: lime, sulfate and sulfuric acid. The first two involve sintering the ore with calcium oxide/carbonate or potassium sulfate.
The procedure takes place at a temperature of 250-300 degrees. The resulting mass is then treated with water to obtain lithium carbonate or sulfate. After this, a chlorination procedure is carried out to obtain lithium chloride. Finally, the final separation procedure is carried out by electrolysis of the melt in the presence of potassium or barium chloride, which lower the melting point of lithium chloride. The pure metal is deposited at the cathode, from where it can be collected for further processing.
The sulfuric acid method involves dissolving ore in sulfuric acid to form lithium sulfate. The further procedure proceeds according to the above scheme.
The lightest metal is used to produce effective semiconductors in alloys with other metals; anodes are made from it, which are then used in electrolysis procedures; lithium is a component of rocket fuel; in metallurgy it is used as a strong reducing agent for less active metals. Lithium is used as various compounds in the production of products for many industries and the national economy.
Aluminum
If we take the strongest and lightest metal, then it is considered to be aluminum. Its density is 2.7 grams per cubic centimeter. This metal is quite common in nature and is widely used in industry. Many aluminum alloys are stronger than steel and yet much lighter. The use of aluminum structures in the construction industry has already reached a new level.
In addition, this element is much more resistant to corrosion and does not require additional hardening. Aluminum is part of aircraft alloys from which aircraft skins are made. Some scientists suggest that in the future its alloys will be able to completely replace steel.
In addition, experiments continue to isolate new elements that combine the positive features of existing substances, but are devoid of their natural disadvantages. So perhaps a new, lightest and strongest metal will soon be discovered, which will declare itself loudly.
Source: https://promplace.ru/vidy-metallov-i-klassifikaciya-staty/samyi-legkii-metall-1552.htm
Light metals list
In the minds of many people, metals are associated with something heavy and solid. But at the same time, there are metal elements that are lighter than water and do not sink in it, but float on the surface. This occurs due to the large size of the atoms and the resulting low density. So which metal is the lightest? It is enough to look at the periodic table of Mendeleev to understand that this is lithium. It is almost twice as light as water.
From R-7 to
MOSCOW, January 20 - RIA Novosti, Nikolai Protopopov. Hundreds of tons of metal and kerosene, impressive dimensions and thermonuclear filling - exactly 60 years ago, on January 20, 1960, the complex with the world's first intercontinental ballistic missile R-7 was put into service. In subsequent years, missiles became significantly smarter and “thinner,” while becoming even more deadly. How the strategic weapons of the USSR and Russia developed - in the material of RIA Novosti.
Firstborn of the Strategic Missile Forces
The development of the long-range missile was entrusted to OKB-1 under the leadership of Sergei Korolev in the middle of the last century. The decision to equip it with a thermonuclear charge was made after the creation and successful testing of the first hydrogen bomb RDS-6S.
The Baikonur test site was built specifically for testing the R-7 in Kazakhstan. The first successful launch of the S7 took place in August 1957. The rocket flew more than five and a half thousand kilometers - to the Kura test site in Kamchatka.
And already in October it launched the first artificial Earth satellite into orbit. Thus, the USSR had the opportunity to quickly drop nuclear charges on US territory without the use of aircraft.
The R-7 was put into service in January 1960 - the first division, consisting of several missile regiments, was based in Plesetsk.
Structurally, the rocket was a two-stage system. The first stage, with a diameter of 9.5 meters, consisted of four blocks. It housed tanks for oxidizer and kerosene, instrument and power compartments, a propulsion engine and steering units. And the head part is in the shape of a cone, more than seven meters long and weighing five and a half tons. Although the mass of a fully fueled “Seven” reached 260 tons, it could only deliver a three-ton warhead with a capacity of 1.5 Mt to another continent.
The "Sevens" served until 1968. On its basis, many launch vehicles were created, including the Soyuz class, which still carry cosmonauts and astronauts to the ISS, as well as launch satellites into orbit.
Weight loss course
Soon the military needed a more powerful but compact missile. The huge “seven” was too expensive and inconvenient. The dimensions also greatly influenced the efficiency of deployment of missile forces and did not allow effective camouflage of launch positions.
OKB-1 developed the R-9A intercontinental ballistic missile, the launch weight of which no longer exceeded eighty tons.
It also ran on an oxygen-kerosene mixture, but more efficient engines lifted a much larger load into the air.
And the nuclear charges for the R-9A were improved - the missile was equipped with either a light warhead weighing 1,700 kilograms and a power of 1.6 Mt, or a heavy warhead weighing 2,200 kilograms and a power of five Mt. The first flew 16 thousand kilometers, the second - 12.
However, the process of installing the R-9A on the launch pad and preparing for launch was quite labor-intensive. First, the rocket was mounted in the installation and testing complex, then it was delivered to the launch site on a self-propelled trolley and verticalized. Next - refueling, setting up the control and aiming system. Finally - launch. It took several hours for the calculation to do everything.
Its relative compactness made it possible to pack the R-9A into a silo launcher (silo). At the launch site, two silos were equipped at once, in which the ICBMs were in a high degree of combat readiness, but without fuel in the tanks.
Compact "weaving"
The R-9A was withdrawn from service in the mid-1970s. It was replaced by a new generation ICBM - UR-100. To achieve parity with the United States in the nuclear race, the USSR needed a missile system suitable for mass production. The small-sized UR-100 weighed about fifty tons. Moreover, this is the first missile that could be stored in a silo in combat-ready condition for up to ten years.
The UR-100 was refueled at the factory, placed in sealed transport and launch containers and delivered to its base. The design incorporates many advanced technologies. For example, the launch of a rocket, as well as monitoring its condition, was carried out remotely. And although the UR-100 was equipped with a monoblock warhead with a relatively small nuclear charge of one megaton, the lack of power was more than compensated for by quantity - thousands of mines were scattered throughout the USSR.
The next light-class ICBM is the UR-100N. In general, the design was identical to its predecessor, but the developers had to increase the launch mass to one hundred tons. Due to this, the UR-100N could throw several times more payload into enemy territory.
The warhead already consisted of six small warheads with individual guidance. The silo launchers did not need to be built anew—the remaining ones from the UR-100 were converted. They were highly protected and were able to withstand a nuclear explosion.
At the same time, heavy-class ICBMs were also created. Thus, in 1978, the Strategic Missile Forces adopted the world’s most powerful intercontinental ballistic missile, the R-36M. Launch weight - more than 200 tons.
Two-stage rockets also came from the factory in sealed containers and ran on high-boiling two-component fuel. Monoblock and multiple warheads threw a heavy 25 Mt warhead over a distance of more than 11 thousand kilometers.
The peculiarity of this missile is a mortar launch, that is, the ICBM was fired from the silo with powder charges, and then the main engine was turned on.
Solid fuel era
Work was also carried out on solid fuel ICBMs. Solid propellant rockets are cheaper and easier to manufacture, and are also much safer during long-term storage. In the late 1980s, the Strategic Missile Forces received the Topol mobile and silo-based complexes, and a few years later the improved Topol-M.
The missile is three-stage, in a transport and launch container. Diameter - less than two meters. Shelf life - 15-20 years. Launch weight is only 45 tons. Equipped with a “miniature” monoblock unit with a yield of 550 kT or several multiple warheads.
At the end of the 2000s, the Russian Strategic Missile Forces were armed with the same compact, but much more advanced solid fuel systems RS-24 Yars. In essence, this is a deep modernization of the Topol - only the head part and the control system differ.
But due to more advanced engines, the Yars have reduced acceleration time at the initial stage of flight, they are much more maneuverable and more accurate. "Yars" overcome all existing missile defense systems, and each warhead is individually aimed at the target.
According to the Ministry of Defense, by 2024 the Strategic Missile Forces will completely re-equip themselves with modern Yars and abandon the outdated Topols.
Source: https://ria.ru/20200120/1563541269.html
The lightest metals in the world
04/06/15
In our article today, we will tell readers about the lightest metals in the world, alloys based on them, and what opportunities their use opens up for humans.
Imagine the picture: a piece of metal mesh is placed on a down-covered dandelion, while the airy “plumage” of the flower does not even deform. This is not fiction or science fiction, this is a scientific development of the University of California - an ultra-light alloy called microlattis. This material has unique strength for its weight. It's all about the special design.
Microlattis is a plexus of hollow tubes, the thickness of which does not exceed a thousandth of a human hair. Each of these tubes is a phosphorus-nickel alloy deposited on a polymer base. That is, in essence, microlattis is literally woven from thin air.
Due to its lightness and strength, it can be used as a heat- and sound-insulating material, as a filler for impact-protective parts in the automobile and aircraft industries.
Metal that doesn't sink in water
The lightest pure metal known to be lithium. The density of this metal is less than the density of water. Like other alkali metals, lithium is highly reactive, so it is practically not used in its pure form. But its various compounds have found wide application in many industries - from electrical engineering to pharmaceuticals.
For example, lithium hydroxide is used in the production of batteries. Lithium compounds with silicon and aluminum underlie the production of ceramic materials that harden at room temperature. Lithium-based products are used to bleach fabrics in the textile industry.
In medicine, lithium carbonate is used as a mood stabilizer in the treatment of mental disorders.
The lightest alloys
The most common light alloys are aluminum-based materials. Almost all aluminum alloys are lightweight, have high corrosion resistance and strength.
Lithium-aluminum alloys are widely used in the aerospace industry due to their lightness and rigidity.
Alloys of aluminum with magnesium and copper are used as raw materials for automotive and aircraft parts.
In nuclear rocket production, aluminum-zirconium alloys are used.
In metallurgy, aluminum alloys are actively used as coatings that impart anti-corrosion properties and resistance to temperature extremes to the original metal.
The areas of application of aluminum and its alloys are so numerous that this metal has long received the status of a material of the 20th century and does not lose its popularity in the 21st.
Source: http://ntc-bulat.ru/samye-legkie-metally-v-mire
What are light metals
The general defining property of any non-ferrous metallurgy products is the complete or extremely low iron content in their composition. This determines the ability of such elements or alloys based on them to form an oxide protective film and exhibit high resistance to corrosion. Thanks to this quality, products made from these materials acquire additional functional value and are widely used in various industries and households.
Group of light non-ferrous metals
The most common methods of classifying non-ferrous metals according to their physical and chemical properties include distribution into seven groups, among which the so-called heavy and light non-ferrous metals are distinguished. This conditional definition is based on the density of the material.
The main list includes aluminum, magnesium, titanium, lithium, tin, and beryllium. This group also includes cadmium, thallium, gallium, bismuth, indium and other elements.
The production of light alloys is extremely energy-intensive, so enterprises specializing in this area of metallurgy are located directly near sources of cheap energy.
Specific Features
Despite belonging to a general group, different light non-ferrous metals have specific properties that distinguish them from each other, as well as determining the value of a particular material and its scope of application. To better understand these nuances, it is worth taking a closer look at the main representatives of this type of non-ferrous metal.
Perhaps the most typical example of a light non-ferrous metal, well known to the widest circle of users, is aluminum. The material is plastic and easy to process, due to which it is extremely popular in a wide range of industries - from the space and aviation industries to the manufacture of kitchenware. The oxide film reliably protects the surface of aluminum products from the negative effects of the environment and aggressive substances. The main properties include:
- high thermal and electrical conductivity;
- corrosion resistance;
- high plasticity;
- low density.
Unlike aluminum, magnesium is characterized by low ductility, therefore it is practically not considered as a structural material. It has the following properties:
- ability to form hydroxide;
- high melting point;
- increased resistance to corrosion;
- strengthening of mechanical properties.
The lightest non-ferrous metal is lithium, which is usually used for alloys and is indispensable for working with optics, lasers, and the production of anodes. In the manufacture of electrolytes for alkaline batteries, hydroxide is used, and in ceramic production, lithium silicate and aluminate are used. The properties of this element make it very useful for the metallurgical and military industries, as well as for medicine, pharmaceuticals, and the thermonuclear industry.
Alloys containing light non-ferrous metals
In its pure form, non-ferrous metal is not used as often as it is used as components of various alloys. For example, the well-known bronze is nothing more than a combination of copper with aluminum, tin, manganese, lead and a number of other elements. Due to its good casting characteristics, the material is widely used for the manufacture of plumbing equipment (valves, taps), lighting devices, decorative items and other products.
Silumin also has high casting characteristics, combining the properties of aluminum and silicon - ductility, flexibility, hardness.
By modification, these mechanical characteristics of silumins can be significantly improved due to an increase in the degree of dispersion of the crystals. Another alloy with an aluminum base is duralumin.
Along with aluminum, there are manganese, copper, silicon, magnesium and other elements belonging to different groups. The technical properties of duralumin are increased through heat treatment.
Features of delivery of light alloys
Currently, individuals and legal entities have the opportunity to make a profit from delivering non-ferrous metal to specialized collection points. The cost of scrap is determined by a number of factors, including the quality of the material, the purity of its chemical composition, category and other parameters. Current prices on the market and the tariffs of a specific host company are also important.
The formal side of the issue of handing over any scrap, including light non-ferrous metals, has its own specifics. Everyone has the right to such an event, but it is implemented in different ways. For example, if the delivery of non-ferrous metal is carried out by a legal entity - an organization, an enterprise or a representative of a small business (IE), then a special license will be required. This requirement does not apply to individuals, but several rules should be taken into account:
- Only your own scrap is allowed for acceptance (with documents confirming the right of ownership);
- the non-ferrous metal to be handed over must be included in the register of materials accepted without a license;
- Delivering scrap to illegal collection points can have very unpleasant consequences in accordance with current legislation.
In addition to purely mercantile interest, the delivery of non-ferrous metals is attractive from an environmental point of view and the conservation of natural resources. The recycled scrap is again used to manufacture the necessary products, and production from recycled materials is cheaper than using ore.
Taking into account the fact that industry's need for scrap is steadily growing, while natural reserves of raw materials are rapidly declining, a closed production cycle is the most rational.
Thus, everyone who donates non-ferrous metal scrap not only increases their own well-being, but also acts for the benefit of society as a whole.
Source: http://www.CvetMetLom.ru/info-metal/legkie-cvetnye-metally
The lightest metal. What light metals are there?
The first metals that man discovered were gold, copper and silver. They have been used since ancient times. What are these substances? Which metal is the lightest?
Metals
For the first time, man discovered metals that are close to the earth's surface. At first it was copper, gold and silver, later they were joined by tin, iron, bronze and lead. With the development of humanity, the list gradually expanded. Currently, about 94 metals have been discovered.
They are simple elements that have high electrical conductivity and heat transfer, ductility, can be forged, and have a characteristic metallic luster. In nature, they are often found in the form of various compounds and ores.
According to their qualities, metals are divided into ferrous, non-ferrous and precious. For use, they are separated from the ore, cleaned, alloyed and other types of processing are carried out. Metals are part of living organisms and are present in seawater.
They are found in small quantities in our body and perform important functions for life. There is copper in the liver, calcium in the skeleton and teeth, sodium in the cytoplasm of cells, iron is part of the blood, and magnesium is found in the muscles.
In the minds of many people, the idea of metals as strong, hard and heavy substances has become entrenched. Some of them do not fit the given description at all. There are a number of metals that have low strength and extreme lightness for these elements. They can even float on the surface of the water.
The lightest metal in the world is lithium. At room temperature its density is lowest. It is almost two times inferior to water and amounts to 0.533 grams per cubic centimeter. Due to its low density, it floats in water and kerosene.
Lithium is found in seawater and the upper continental crust. The lightest metal is present in large quantities in the Thorna-Zytkow star object, which consists of a supergiant and a red giant.
Under normal conditions, lithium is a ductile, malleable, silvery metal so soft that it can be cut with a knife. Melts at 181 degrees Celsius. It is toxic and actively interacts with the environment, so it is not used in its pure form.
Lighter than light
Microlattis is the lightest metal obtained artificially. It is 99.99% air and is much lighter than foam. The metal was created by scientists at the University of California; in 2016 it was officially recognized and included in the Book of Records.
The secret of its unusual lightness lies in its structure, reminiscent of the bones of living organisms. The metal consists of cells that are made of nickel-phosphorus tubes. They are empty inside, and their thickness is several times less than that of a human hair.
Despite its lightness, microlattis can withstand heavy loads no worse than natural metals. Such properties can have wide applications, one of them is the creation of artificial lungs.
Source: https://FB.ru/article/285914/samyiy-legkiy-metall-kakie-suschestvuyut-legkie-metallyi
The lightest metal
In the minds of many people, the idea of metals as strong, hard and heavy substances has become entrenched. Some of them do not fit the given description at all. There are a number of metals that have low strength and extreme lightness for these elements. They can even float on the surface of the water.
The lightest metal in the world is lithium. At room temperature its density is lowest. It is almost two times inferior to water and amounts to 0.533 grams per cubic centimeter. Due to its low density, it floats in water and kerosene.
Lithium is found in seawater and the upper continental crust. The lightest metal is present in large quantities in the Thorna-Zytkow star object, which consists of a supergiant and a red giant.
Under normal conditions, lithium is a ductile, malleable, silvery metal so soft that it can be cut with a knife. Melts at 181 degrees Celsius. It is toxic and actively interacts with the environment, so it is not used in its pure form.
Lighter than light
Microlattis is the lightest metal obtained artificially. It is 99.99% air and is much lighter than foam. The metal was created by scientists at the University of California; in 2016 it was officially recognized and included in the Book of Records.
The secret of its unusual lightness lies in its structure, reminiscent of the bones of living organisms. The metal consists of cells that are made of nickel-phosphorus tubes. They are empty inside, and their thickness is several times less than that of a human hair.
Despite its lightness, microlattis can withstand heavy loads no worse than natural metals. Such properties can have wide applications, one of them is the creation of artificial lungs.
Source: https://monateka.com/article/179139/
