What metal is most abundant on Earth?

What is ore, its formation in nature and application

A car, a telephone, even a refrigerator - all this equipment is made of iron, the production of which is a very complex process. The main raw materials for obtaining this valuable material are minerals, which contain particles of the necessary metal.

In simple words, it is a rock containing alloys. There is a huge amount of this resource in the world, the methods of processing it and obtaining minerals from it can be very diverse, but it all starts in the mines.

What mining ore is, how it is mined and processed will be discussed in this article.

Ore classification

Ore is a mineral from which various forms of metals are extracted. There are two types found in nature: black and colored. The latter, in turn, is divided into heavy and light alloys, as well as precious metals. Silver, gold, platinum - they are also mined in the form of stones, and acquire their appearance after processing at enterprises.

The economic value of a resource is determined by the presence of its main constituent element. There are rich, as they are also called, fatty and poor minerals.

Classification of fossil ores by metal content.

Iron	Copper	Aluminum	Gold
Poor	Rich	Poor	Rich	Poor	Rich	Poor	Rich
26%	>50%	0,5 – 1%	>3%	20 – 25%	40 – 60%	1%	7,7%

The properties are also determined by the main constituent component. Some of them are magnetic, while others are completely inert.

Not many people know that the meaning of the word “ore” comes from “raũdas”, red. This is due to the color of iron oxide, which was present in large quantities in the rock.

Ferrous metal ores

Iron is one of the most common elements on earth. For production, a mineral is used that contains more than 25% of raw materials. Developing poorer breeds will not pay off, so they are not used.

The most common fossils:

• Magnetic iron ore;
• Hematite;
• Ferrous quartzite.

The largest reserves are located in South Africa, India, North and South America, and Australia. World deposits, according to experts, may be about 800 billion tons, of which 200 billion tons are confirmed. Perhaps there are many more minerals hidden in the ground that people have no idea about.

Iron ore differs from each other in the way it originates. There are three types of occurrence of iron in rocks. The first is sedimentary. The divalent iron that was in the water bonded with oxygen, turning into a dense compound and settling to the bottom. Thus, iron ore was formed. It is found even in places where the seas dried up millions of years ago. Such ore contains a very high amount of the metal component, but, as a rule, its quality is quite low.

The second way of formation is magmatic. It was formed during volcanic eruptions and the eruption of magma to the surface. Iron and other metallic impurities mixed with hot lava under the influence of high temperatures and pressure. But when they got outside, they froze, remaining in large blocks of stones. metal in such ore can range from 20 to 60%.

The third method is metamorphic. When the earth's crust moved, some of its sections with the necessary elements fell under the overlying rocks. These areas were exposed to high pressures and temperatures. Over millions of years, these processes led to changes in the composition of the source material. During the same movement of the earth's crust, the ore moved closer to the surface. This is how iron ore with a high content of useful components (up to 75%) was formed.

Ferrous metal ores also include rocks that contain manganese, titanium, chromium, nickel, cobalt, tungsten and other rare metals. A rich one can contain from 0.5 to 10% of the main component, because it is quite rare in nature. The main thing is that their extraction and processing is economically profitable for production.

Non-ferrous metal ores

The scientific name of the copper ore mineral is cuprite, derived from the chemical element Cu found in the rock. Despite the high prevalence of this metal in the world, its amount in minerals is not large, from 0.5%. There are six types of ores in nature:

• Pyrite;
• Stratiform;
• Copper-nickel;
• Hydrothermal;
• Carbonate;
• Skarnova.

Most often, pyrite is mined; it is a combination of copper and iron, with minor admixtures of other components. It is slightly inferior to the stratiform one, which is represented by a combination of shales and sandstones. Resources of other types are much less common. Massive copper nuggets do not exist; it is formed only in the form of mixtures. The formation of copper occurred during volcanic eruptions, which determines this feature.

There is currently controversy over the origin of aluminum. Some believe that this is the result of the decomposition of limestone and iron, others - the enormous temperatures during volcanic eruptions. There is also a sedimentary theory that it was formed due to the weathering of rocks.

It is mined by quarry and mine methods. Given the softness of the rock, its extraction is very similar to cutting down coal. Most other ores are obtained in alloys with many chemical impurities.

Their processing is almost no different from the processing of copper or aluminum.

In terms of prevalence, aluminum surpasses even iron. Its deposits amount to billions of tons, but the cost of production is much higher, which sets the price for this product.

Ores rich in gold

Gold ore is a chemical compound of metals from which gold can be isolated. It is similar to alloys, for example, with silver or iron. It is quite difficult to separate them from the rock; this is a physicochemical process called dissociation, when cations are deposited on the electrodes under the influence of an electric current.

A similar process is used in the production of copper. By the way, these compounds can also be found in copper ore, so the sediment that forms during copper production also undergoes this process. Besides her, there are also nuggets in the world. These are stones in which Au content predominates.

Very often the precious metal is found in combination with tellurium. In Russia, namely in the Urals, there is such a rare alloy as maldomite (a combination with bismuth), which is also called black gold. In Mexico and Colombia you can even find rhodium ore.

The oldest gold mine in Russia is located in the Urals. Its discovery occurred back in 1742, and it significantly influenced the economic state of the state. Here they found nuggets and placers of the most valuable metal, which were also of high quality. Even now, Ural gold is very highly valued in the world.

Mining of ore minerals in Russia

The mineral potential of the Russian territory is enormous. This is due to the favorable geographical location of the country. Here you can find all possible types of relief, which means a large number of minerals. Now the Russian Federation is the largest importer of metal raw materials in the world.

Ore	Place of Birth	Metal extraction per year
Iron	OlenegorskoyeKovdorskoyeKostomukshaAbakanskoyeNizhneangarskoyeRudnogorskoyeKorshunovskoye	16.2 million tons.
Copper	Krasnoturinskoye KrasnouralskoyeSibaevskoyeBlyavinskoye	741 thousand tons
Aluminum	Northern UralsKrasnoyarsk Territory	6.3 million tons
Tin	Yanskoye Highlands (Verkhoyansk) in the region of Pevek, Omsukchan (on the Kolyma Highlands) Dalnegorsk	2 thousand tons
Gold	placer deposits in the basins of the Vitim, Aldan, Yenisei, and Kolyma rivers	47.2 tons
Platinum	Ural Mountains	25 tons

Mining ore is very important for human existence, because without it even the transportation of electricity through wires is not possible. This mineral plays a huge role in the technical development of mankind. The metal deposits are still undeveloped and could provide the world with many years to come.

Source: https://geomix.ru/blog/minerals/ruda/

Aluminum is the most abundant metal in the earth's crust

• Aluminum is one of the most common elements in nature, exceeded only by oxygen and silicon, and among metals it ranks first in abundance. There is so much of it that experts estimate its mass fraction in the earth’s crust to be up to 8%. As a chemical element, aluminum is found in a huge number of minerals, for example, it is found in sapphires and rubies, in granite and feldspar, in emeralds and, of course, in bauxite - aluminum ore.
  

  Properties of aluminum

  Of the main physical properties of aluminum, it should be especially noted: - very low density, three times less than the density of steel, zinc and copper (aluminum is a light metal); - high electrical conductivity, the value of which is second only to copper and silver; - high thermal conductivity; - corrosion resistance ;—high ductility (soft metal);—reflective ability;—paramagnetism;—the ability to form alloys with other metals;—preservation of ductility and increased strength at very low temperatures;—non-toxicity.

Aluminum is easily processed by mechanical methods, it can be subjected to cold and hot processing, rolled into the thinnest foil and wire, and turned into powder. In its pure form, aluminum is a very active metal that reacts chemically with acids and alkalis, oxygen, carbon, nitrogen, and halogens , water and other substances.

Paradoxically, aluminum's outstanding corrosion resistance is based on the chemical reactivity of the metal. In air, aluminum is immediately covered with a film of Al2O3, which under normal conditions reliably protects the metal from any further reactions. Therefore, aluminum is practically never found in its native form, only in the form of compounds.

Application of aluminum

Aluminum is an extremely popular metal in a variety of branches of science and production. It is produced in millions of tons per year, more and more every year. The use of aluminum in the manufacture of new modern composite materials is very promising.

Made from aluminum:

- various alloys, which, having inherited the low density of aluminum, are durable, which makes them suitable for the production of pipes, profiles, structural elements such as pistons and bearings, parts of aircraft and automobile engines and housings; - wire, cables, wires for power lines and conductors for microchips;— dishes and containers for preparing and storing food;— engine parts, cooling and heating systems;— mirrors, telescope reflectors, reflectors;— packaging materials with a high recycling rate;— roofing material;— aluminum powder for production paints resistant to adverse external conditions; - aluminum foil for capacitors, insulators, printing production, food packaging;

— components of explosive and pyrotechnic mixtures, solid rocket fuel, thermite mixture for welding thick-walled structures.

In addition, aluminum is used:

- as an important chemical reagent - a reducing agent; - in metallurgy; - in cryogenic technology; - for aluminizing (coating with a thin layer of aluminum).

In the Prime Chemicals Group store you can buy aluminum in various forms at good prices - granular, sulfate, fluoride, anhydrous, etc. We also offer chemical reagents, laboratory equipment and instruments, laboratory glassware. Prompt delivery and pickup from Mytishchi is possible.

Source: https://pcgroup.ru/blog/alyuminij-samyj-rasprostranennyj-metall-v-zemnoj-kore/

Top 10 strongest metals in the world

Metals began to be used in everyday life in ancient times. Copper was the first element that man began to use, since it was easy to find in nature and easy to process. It is no coincidence that archaeologists have found numerous objects made of copper.

In the course of their development, people learned to make alloys from which tools and then weapons were made. Nowadays, research is being carried out to identify the strongest metals. Let's learn more about the properties and uses of the ten strongest metals in the world.

10. Titan

It is called the metal of the future, since its final place in people's lives has not yet been determined. The man quickly appreciated his best qualities. Titanium is light and high-strength, resistant to high temperatures, has low density, and is resistant to corrosion. Areas of application: aviation technology and rocket industry, shipbuilding. Titanium alloys have great application prospects, but are hampered by their high cost and lack of widespread use.

9. Uranus

The most common metal, it is highly durable and weakly radioactive under normal conditions. The discovery of uranium by scientists is considered a discovery on a planetary scale. It is endowed with paramagnetic properties, flexible, malleable and relatively plastic, thanks to these qualities it has found application in a variety of industrial fields: it is the basis for nuclear weapons, uranium compounds are used in the production of glass, as dyes.

8. Tungsten

It is characterized by high refractoriness and also belongs to the strongest metals on planet Earth. Being a solid element of white-gray color with a characteristic shine, tungsten is high-strength, refractory, and resistant to acidic and alkaline environments. Endowed with malleability, as temperatures rise, W self-heats and also stretches into a thin thread used in lamps.

7. Rhenium

Paramagnetic rhenium, one of the “heavier” elements of high density (21.03 g/cm3). On earth, RE exists in its pure form; the content as an impurity in molybdenite is especially significant, up to 0.5%.

The pronounced properties of RE are considered to be the highest strength, heat resistance, characterized by refractoriness, oxidation resistance, ductility, and low corrosion when exposed to many chemicals. Rhenium is an expensive metal.

The areas of application are diverse: electronics, rocket science, aircraft manufacturing (for example, the production of spare parts for supersonic fighters), metallurgy, medicine, shipbuilding.

6. Osmium

The metal is silvery-light in color, shimmering blue. Part of the platinum group, it is considered one of the denser elements. Characterized by hardness.

Os is a brittle metal, but it is characterized by resistance to mechanical stress and the influence of an acidic environment. Scientists have documented the presence of osmium in metal meteorites.

Forming an ideal composition with other elements, it is widely used in medicine, electronics, chemistry and petrochemistry, rocket science, and is widely used in the production of pens.

5. Beryllium

The metal is gray in color with a silvery tint, acquiring a matte tint when in contact with air due to the formation of an oxide film. The metal is characterized by hardness and is highly toxic. Unlike other metals, it conducts heat well and is characterized by low electrical resistance.

Possessing unique properties, Be is used in aerospace, rocketry, nuclear energy, the metallurgical industry, nuclear energy, and laser technology.

Given the high hardness of Be, it is used to produce alloying alloys, materials distinguished by their fire-resistant qualities.

4. Chrome

Chrome is a blue-white metal. It is characterized by high strength, hardness, pronounced magnetic properties, is not subject to hydrogen embrittlement, and is resistant to acidic and alkaline environments. It is used to create various alloys, which in turn are in demand for the manufacture of medical equipment. In addition, Cr is used in the synthesis of artificial rubies; chromium salts are used to preserve wood and tan leather.

3. Tantalum

Tantalum is one of the three strongest elements on earth. It is characterized by a gray-metallic color with a silvery sheen, high hardness and atomic density. The oxide film that forms on top gives it a leaden tint.

Despite its high hardness and strength, this metal is characterized by ductility, and in this quality it is comparable to gold. The metal is refractory, resistant to corrosion and oxidation.

It has found active use in metallurgy, construction of power plants, and the chemical industry.

2. Ruthenium

The name of the second most durable metal in the ancient language means Russia. The metal has a silvery color, belongs to the platinoids, and is found in the muscle tissues of all creatures living on earth. A high-strength metal, hard, refractory, resistant to chemicals, and capable of forming complex compounds. Ruthenium is used in the space industry, medicine, electronics, and as an additive that gives gold its black color.

1. Iridium

Iridium is considered the leader among all metals with high strength. The hard and refractory gray-white element belongs to the platinum group. Today it is almost never found on the surface of the Earth, but is often found in compounds with osmium.

Due to its hardness, the impact on metal is difficult, and therefore processing is resistant to chemicals. Its significance in everyday life is very great. Iridium is used to give metals such as titanium, chromium and tungsten better resistance to acidic and alkaline environments.

It is used for the manufacture of thermocouples, fuel tanks, thermoelectric generators, in medicine, and is widely used for alloys with platinum among jewelers.

Source: https://toptimes.ru/top-10-samyh-prochnyh-metallov-v-mire/

The hardest steel in the world

Do you know which material on our planet is considered the strongest? We all know from school that diamond is the strongest mineral, but it is far from the strongest. Hardness is not the main property that characterizes matter. Some properties may prevent scratches, while others may promote elasticity. Want to know more? Here is a rating of materials that will be very difficult to destroy.

Diamond

Diamond in all its glory

A classic example of strength, stuck in textbooks and heads. Its hardness means it is scratch resistant. On the Mohs scale (a qualitative scale that measures the resistance of various minerals), diamond scores at 10 (the scale goes from 1 to 10, with 10 being the hardest substance). Diamond is so hard that other diamonds must be used to cut it.

Darwin's spider silk

A web that can stop an airbus

Often cited as the world's most complex biological substance (though this claim is now disputed by its inventors), Darwin's web is stronger than steel and has greater stiffness than Kevlar. Its weight is no less remarkable: a thread long enough to encircle the Earth weighs only 0.5 kg.

Aerographite

Aerographite in a regular package

This synthetic foam is one of the lightest building materials in the world. Aerographite is about 75 times lighter than polystyrene foam (but much stronger!). This material can be compressed to 30 times its original size without damaging its structure. Another interesting point: aerographite can support 40,000 times its own weight.

Palladium micro-doped glass

Glass during a crash test

This substance was developed by scientists in California. Microalloy glass has an almost perfect combination of rigidity and strength. The reason for this is that its chemical structure reduces the brittleness of glass, but retains the rigidity of palladium.

Wolfram carbide

Tungsten drill

Tungsten carbide is incredibly hard and has qualitatively high rigidity, but it is quite brittle and can be bent easily.

Silicon carbide

Silicon carbide in the form of crystals

This material is used to create armor for battle tanks. In fact, it is used in almost anything that can protect against bullets. It has a Mohs hardness rating of 9 and also has low thermal expansion.

Cubic boron nitride

Molecular structure of boron nitride

About as strong as diamond, cubic boron nitride has one important advantage: it is insoluble in nickel and iron at high temperatures. For this reason, it can be used to process these elements (diamond forms of nitrides with iron and nickel at high temperatures).

Dyneema

Dyneema cable

Considered the strongest fiber in the world. You might be surprised by this fact: Dainima is lighter than water, but it can stop bullets!

Titanium alloys

Alloy tube

Titanium alloys are extremely flexible and have very high tensile strength, but do not have the same rigidity as steel alloys.

Amorphous alloys

Amorphous metals change shape easily

Liquidmetal was developed by Caltech. Despite the name, this metal is not liquid and at room temperature has a high level of strength and wear resistance. When heated, amorphous alloys can change shape.

Nanocellulose

Future paper could be harder than diamonds

This latest invention is created from wood pulp, while having a greater degree of strength than steel! And much cheaper. Many scientists consider nanocellulose to be a cheap alternative to palladium glass and carbon fiber.

Shellfish teeth

saucer shell

We mentioned earlier that Darwin's spiders spin threads of some of the strongest organic material on Earth. Nevertheless, the limpet's teeth turned out to be even stronger than the webs. Limpet teeth are extremely tough.

The reason for these amazing characteristics is the purpose: collecting algae from the surface of rocks and corals.

Scientists believe that in the future we could copy the fibrous structure of limpet teeth and use it in the automobile industry, ships and even the aviation industry.

Maraging steels

A rocket stage in which many components contain maraging steels

This substance combines a high level of strength and rigidity without loss of elasticity. Steel alloys of this type are used in aerospace and industrial manufacturing technologies.

Osmium

Osmium crystal

Osmium is extremely dense. It is used in the manufacture of things that require a high level of strength and hardness (electrical contacts, tip handles, etc.).

Kevlar

Kevlar helmet stopped a bullet

Used in everything from drums to bulletproof vests, Kevlar is synonymous with toughness. Kevlar is a type of plastic that has extremely high tensile strength. In fact, it is about 8 times larger than steel wire! It can also withstand temperatures around 450℃.

Spectra

Spectra pipes

High performance polyethylene is a truly durable plastic. This lightweight, strong thread can withstand incredible tension and is ten times stronger than steel. Similar to Kevlar, Spectra is also used for ballistic resistant vests, helmets and armored vehicles.

Graphene

Flexible graphene screen

A sheet of graphene (an allotrope of carbon) one atom thick is 200 times stronger than steel. Although graphene looks like cellophane, it is truly amazing. It would take a school bus balancing on a pencil to pierce a standard A1 sheet of this material!

Buckypaper

New technology that could revolutionize our understanding of strength

This nanotechnology is made from carbon tubes that are 50,000 times thinner than human hair. This explains why it is 10 times lighter than steel but 500 times stronger.

Metal microgrid

microlattice alloys are regularly used in satellites

The world's lightest metal, metal microlattice is also one of the lightest structural materials on Earth.

Some scientists claim that it is 100 times lighter than polystyrene foam! A porous but extremely strong material, it is used in many fields of technology.

Boeing has mentioned using it in aircraft, mainly in floors, seats and walls.

Carbon nanotubes

Nanotube model

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) can be described as “seamless cylindrical hollow fibers” that consist of a single rolled molecular sheet of pure graphite. The result is a very light material. At the nanoscale, carbon nanotubes have 200 times the strength of steel.

Airbrush

Fantastic airbrush is hard to even describe!

Also known as graphene airgel. Imagine the strength of graphene combined with unimaginable lightness. Airgel is 7 times lighter than air! This incredible material can fully recover from over 90% compression and can absorb up to 900 times its weight in oil. It is hoped that this material can be used to clean up oil spills.

Unnamed substance under development at MIT

Massachusetts Polytechnic Main Building

At the time of this writing, scientists at MIT believe they have discovered the secret to maximizing the 2D strength of graphene in 3D. Their as-yet unnamed substance may have about 5% the density of steel, but 10 times the strength.

Carbin

Molecular structure of carbyne

Despite being a single chain of atoms, carbyne has twice the tensile strength of graphene and three times the stiffness of diamond.

Wurtzite boron nitride

birthplace of boron nitride

This natural substance is produced in the craters of active volcanoes and is 18% stronger than diamond. It is one of two naturally occurring substances currently found to be harder than diamonds. The problem is that there is not much of this substance, and now it is difficult to say for sure whether this statement is 100% true.

Lonsdaleite

Meteorites are the main sources of lonsdaleite

Also known as hexagonal diamond, this substance is made up of carbon atoms, but they are simply arranged differently.

Along with wurtzite boron nitride, it is one of two natural substances harder than diamond. In fact, Lonsdaleite is 58% harder! However, as with the previous substance, it is found in relatively small volumes.

Sometimes it occurs when graphite meteorites collide with planet Earth.

The future is just around the corner, so by the end of the 21st century we can expect the emergence of ultra-strong and ultra-light materials that will replace Kevlar and diamonds. In the meantime, one can only be amazed at the development of modern technologies.

• Nikita Linnik

Source: https://steelfactoryrus.com/samaya-tverdaya-stal-v-mire/

Aluminum is the most common metal in the earth's crust:

Metals are a group of simple substances that have characteristic metallic properties. Some of them are valued higher than gold for their amazing characteristics, which allow them to be used in a variety of fields. Many metals are contained in the earth's crust in small quantities. But today we will look at what is the most common metal in the earth’s crust.

What do we know about aluminum?

Yes, aluminum is the most common metal. It was discovered in 1825 by the Danish scientist Oersted. However, as early as 500 BC, people used so-called aluminum alum. They were used as a mordant for dyeing fabrics and tanning leather.

Aluminum, similar in appearance to silver, was initially very valuable. This is due to the fact that it is quite difficult to obtain in its pure form. And it was not known that this is the most common metal in the earth’s crust. In the 19th century, between 1855 and 1890, only 200 tons of pure metal were obtained.

However, today geologists claim that 8% of the Earth's crust consists of aluminum. It is second only to oxygen and silicon in terms of its content in the earth’s crust. It is not found in free form in nature.

Aluminum was widely used in the countries of the USSR thanks to the developments of scientists. The discovered method for producing aluminum provided unlimited opportunities for the development of the aluminum industry. On its basis, they actively made tableware, which each of us saw in our grandmothers’ kitchens. The first satellite of the USSR was also made of aluminum alloy. It is also used in the electrical industry (cables, sockets, capacitors).

Basic properties of aluminum

The most common metal in the earth's crust has a number of properties that allow it to be actively used in metal structures. It is light, soft and easy to stamp.

Aluminum has high corrosion resistance. Upon contact with air, it becomes covered with a film that prevents its oxidation. It is non-toxic (if it does not enter the body in large quantities), and has high electrical and thermal conductivity. It is he who ensures the transmission of electricity on Earth.

However, the metal is not durable. Therefore, in the manufacture of metal structures, an alloy of aluminum with other metals - copper, magnesium - is often used. Such alloys are called duralumin.

The electrical conductivity of the metal can be compared to copper, but it is cheaper, so it has found wider use. One of the few disadvantages of aluminum is that it is difficult to solder due to its strong oxide film. By the way, it is highly flammable and if not for this oxide film, it would burn in air.

Aluminum is a precious metal

Interestingly, aluminum was highly valued in the 19th century. For a kilogram of metal they asked for about 3,000 francs. Therefore, jewelers actively made jewelry based on it. After all, the metal is easy to process, has a beautiful silver tint and allows you to give the product any shape.

However, after a few years it began to fall in price and soon went out of fashion. Many aluminum jewelry did not survive the depreciation of the metal. Today they are very rare.

More recently, aluminum became the main theme of an exhibition organized in Pittsburgh (Pennsylvania) at the Carnegie Museum. Interest in him appears again. The most common non-ferrous metal in the earth's crust today is used in the form of metal foam. This is the latest development, on the basis of which even ship hulls can be manufactured.

Harm of aluminum

Back in 1960, scientists discovered that high levels of aluminum were present in the brains of people suffering from Alzheimer's disease.

Recent studies have confirmed that metal causes accelerated aging of brain cells and causes degenerative neurological diseases. The low digestibility of aluminum gives a false impression of its safety for the body.

But in fact, long-term use of small doses of it eventually causes neurons in the brain and spinal cord to shut down.

Gold is the most commonly found precious metal

Gold is the most common noble metal in the earth's crust. Once upon a time, people knew only 2 precious metals - gold and silver. However, later the list expanded. Today the noble metals are the platinum group of metals. This group, in addition to platinum, also includes its elements - rhodium, osmium, ruthenium and iridium. By the way, iridium is the rarest metal in this group. Technetium is also recognized as noble, but due to radioactivity it was not included in the list of precious metals.

Gold, like other noble metals, has a number of unique properties. It shines in the open air, it is not harmed by prolonged exposure to water, as well as exposure to alkalis and acids, and high temperatures.

Gold is easy to process and has a high density. The metal is found in the form of nuggets, sand and in combination with other elements. However, gold is inferior to many metals in strength and stability.

Today it is far from the most expensive precious metal. Its price is $45 per 1 gram.

Source: https://www.syl.ru/article/370047/alyuminiy---samyiy-rasprostranennyiy-metall-v-zemnoy-kore

7 heaviest elements on Earth | By atomic mass

We need to be more specific when talking about how heavy an element is. There are two possible ways to determine the "heaviest" elements - based on their density or atomic mass.

The heaviest element in terms of density can be defined as mass per unit volume, which is usually measured in grams per cubic centimeter or kilograms per cubic meter.

The densest natural element on Earth is osmium. This shiny substance has a density of 22.59 g/cm3, slightly more than that of iridium.

Another way to look at heaviness is as atomic weight, the average mass of an element's atoms. The standard unit of atomic mass is one twelfth the mass of one carbon-12 atom.

This is a fundamental concept in chemistry because most chemical reactions occur according to simple numerical relationships between atoms. Below we have listed the 7 heaviest elements found on Earth according to their atomic masses.

Note: We have not mentioned elements whose properties are unknown or not yet confirmed, such as moscovium, flerovium, nihonium and meitnerium.

7. Rutherfordium

Atomic mass: 267

Rutherfordium (Rf) was the first superheavy element to be discovered [in 1964]. It is highly radioactive and its most stable isotope, 267Rf, has a half-life of about 78 minutes.

Rutherfordium is a man-made element created in a laboratory by bombarding californium-249 with carbon-12 nuclei. A total of 16 isotopes have been recorded with atomic masses between 253 and 270. Most of them decay rapidly through spontaneous fission pathways.

This element is expected to be solid under normal conditions and is expected to have chemical properties similar to hafnium. It has only been created in small quantities and is used only for scientific research.

6. Dubniy

Atomic mass: 268

Dubnium (Db) is a radioactive element first synthesized in 1968 at the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, Russia. It has seven recognized isotopes, of which the most stable is 268Db with a half-life of 32 hours.

Dubnium can be produced by bombarding californium-249 with nitrogen or americium-243 with neon. Limited analysis of Dubnium's chemistry has confirmed that the element behaves more like niobium than tantalum, breaking periodic trends.

Because the element is not found free in nature or created in large quantities in a laboratory, it has no uses other than scientific research.

5. Siborgium

Atomic mass: 269

Source: https://new-science.ru/7-samyh-tyazhelyh-elementov-na-zemle-po-atomnoj-masse/

The heaviest and densest metal in the world

Since time immemorial, people have been actively using various metals. After studying their properties, the substances took their rightful place in the table of the famous D. Mendeleev. Scientists are still arguing about the question of which metal should be given the title of the heaviest and densest in the world. There are two elements in the balance on the periodic table – iridium and osmium. Why they are interesting, read on.

general information

For centuries, people have been studying the beneficial properties of the most common metals on the planet. Science stores the most information about gold, silver and copper. Over time, humanity became acquainted with iron and lighter metals - tin and lead. In the world of the Middle Ages, people actively used arsenic, and diseases were treated with mercury.

Thanks to rapid progress, today the heaviest and densest metals are considered not just one element of the table, but two at once. At number 76 is osmium (Os), and at number 77 is iridium (Ir), the substances have the following density indicators:

• osmium is heavy, due to its density of 22.62 g/cm³;
• iridium is not much lighter - 22.53 g/cm³.

Density is one of the physical properties of metals; it is the ratio of the mass of a substance to its volume. Theoretical calculations of the density of both elements have some errors, so both metals are today considered to be the heaviest.

For clarity, you can compare the weight of an ordinary cork with the weight of a cork made of the heaviest metal in the world. To balance the scales with a stopper made of osmium or iridium, you will need more than a hundred ordinary stoppers.

History of the discovery of metals

Both elements were discovered at the dawn of the 19th century by the scientist Smithson Tennant. Many researchers of that time were studying the properties of raw platinum, treating it with “regia vodka”. Only Tennant was able to detect two chemical substances in the resulting sediment:

• The scientist named the sedimentary element with a persistent smell of chlorine osmium;
• a substance with changing colors was called iridium (rainbow).

Both elements were represented by a single alloy, which the scientist managed to separate. Further research into platinum nuggets was undertaken by the Russian chemist K. Klaus, who carefully studied the properties of sedimentary elements. The difficulty in determining the heaviest metal in the world lies in the low difference in their density, which is not a constant value.

Vivid characteristics of the densest metals

The substances obtained experimentally are powders that are quite difficult to process; forging metals requires very high temperatures. The most common form of the combination of iridium and osmium is the alloy of osmic iridium, which is mined in platinum deposits and gold strata.

The most common places where iridium is found are meteorites rich in iron. Native osmium cannot be found in the natural world, only in collaboration with iridium and other components of the platinum group. Deposits often contain sulfur and arsenic compounds.

Features of the heaviest and most expensive metal in the world

Among the elements of Mendeleev's periodic table, osmium is considered the most expensive. The silvery metal with a bluish tint belongs to the platinum group of noble chemical compounds. The densest, but very brittle metal does not lose its shine under the influence of high temperatures.

Characteristics

• Element #76 Osmium has an atomic mass of 190.23 amu;
• A substance molten at a temperature of 3033°C will boil at 5012°C.
• The heaviest material has a density of 22.62 g/cm³;
• The structure of the crystal lattice has a hexagonal shape.

Despite the amazingly cold shine of silver tint, osmium is not suitable for the production of jewelry due to its high toxicity.

Melting the jewelry would require a temperature similar to the surface of the Sun, since the densest metal in the world is destroyed by mechanical stress.

Turning into powder, osmium interacts with oxygen, reacts to sulfur, phosphorus, selenium; the reaction of the substance to aqua regia is very slow. Osmium does not have magnetism; alloys tend to oxidize and form cluster compounds.

Where is it used?

The heaviest and incredibly dense metal has high wear resistance, so adding it to alloys significantly increases their strength. The use of osmium is mainly associated with the chemical industry. In addition, it is used for the following needs:

• manufacturing containers intended for storing nuclear fusion waste;
• for the needs of rocket science, weapons production (warheads);
• in the watch industry for the manufacture of movements of branded models;
• for the manufacture of surgical implants, parts of pacemakers.

Interestingly, the densest metal is considered the only element in the world that is not subject to the aggression of the “hellish” mixture of acids (nitric and hydrochloric). Aluminum combined with osmium becomes so ductile that it can be pulled without breaking.

Secrets of the world's rarest and densest metal

The fact that iridium belongs to the platinum group gives it the property of immunity to treatment with acids and their mixtures. In the world, iridium is obtained from anode sludge during copper-nickel production. After treating the sludge with aqua regia, the resulting precipitate is calcined, resulting in the extraction of iridium.

Application area

Although Iridium is a precious metal, it is rarely used for jewelry. The element, which is difficult to process, is in great demand in the construction of roads and the production of automobile parts. Alloys with the densest metal that is not susceptible to oxidation are used for the following purposes:

• manufacturing crucibles for laboratory experiments;
• production of special mouthpieces for glass blowers;
• covering the tips of pens and ballpoint pens;
• production of durable spark plugs for cars;

Alloys with iridium isotopes are used in welding production, in instrument making, and for growing crystals as part of laser technology. The use of the heaviest metal made it possible to carry out laser vision correction, crushing kidney stones and other medical procedures.

Although Iridium is non-toxic and not dangerous to biological organisms, its dangerous isotope, hexafluoride, can be found in the natural environment. Inhalation of toxic vapors leads to instant suffocation and death.

Places of natural occurrence

Deposits of the densest metal Iridium in the natural world are negligible, much smaller than reserves of platinum. Presumably the heaviest substance has shifted to the core of the planet, so the volume of industrial production of the element is small (about three tons per year). Products made from iridium alloys can last up to 200 years, making jewelry more durable.

Nuggets of the heaviest metal with an unpleasant odor, Osmium, cannot be found in nature. In the composition of the minerals, traces of osmic iridium can be found along with platinum, palladium, and ruthenium. Deposits of osmic iridium have been explored in Siberia (Russia), some states of America (Alaska and California), Australia and South Africa.

If deposits of platinum are discovered, it will be possible to isolate osmium with iridium to strengthen and strengthen the physical or chemical compounds of various products.

Source: https://top-top.info/tovaryi/samyiy-tyazhelyiy-i-plotnyiy-metall-v-mire.html

The heaviest metal

Currently, 126 chemical elements are already known. But the heaviest among them are considered to be Osmium (Os) and Iridium (Ir). Both of these elements are transition metals and belong to the platinum group. Their serial numbers in the Periodic System of I.P.

Mendeleev 76 and 77 respectively. Being very hard, both metals can be compared in density. This is due to the fact that the density values ​​were derived purely theoretically (22.562 g/cm³ (Ir) and 22.587 g/cm³ (Os)).

And with such calculations there is always an error (± 0.009 g/cm³ for both calculations).

History of discovery

The discovery of these elements is associated with the name of the English scientist S. Tennant. In 1803 he studied the properties of platinum. And when this metal reacted with a mixture of acids (“aqua regia”), an insoluble precipitate consisting of impurities was isolated. Studying this substance, S.

Tennant isolated new elements, which he named iridium and osmium.
The element received the name “iridium” (“rainbow”) because its salts came in a variety of colors. And “osmium” (“smell”) was so named due to the sharp smell of osmium oxide OsO4, close to ozone.

Properties

Both osmium and iridium are practically unprocessable. They have a very high melting point. In compact form, they do not react with active media such as acids, alkalis or mixtures of acids. These properties are observed in osmium at temperatures up to 100°C, and in iridium at temperatures up to 400°C.

Spreading

The most commonly mined form of these elements is iridium osmide. This alloy is mainly found in natural platinum and gold mining areas. Another place where iridium and osmium are often found is in iron meteorites. Osmium without iridium is practically never found in nature. Whereas iridium is found in combinations with other metals.

For example, in compounds with ruthenium or rhodium. However, iridium remains one of the most uncommon chemical elements on our planet. Its industrial production in the world does not exceed 3 tons per year.

At the moment, the regions that are the main sources of iridium and osmium production are California, Alaska (USA), Siberia (Russia), Bushveld (South Africa), Australia, New Guinea, Canada.

the heaviest metals

More interesting records:

Source: http://samoe1.ru/samyj-tyazhelyj-metall.html

The amount of gold in the world and where is it most?

How much gold is there in the world, a lot or a little, and how long will the yellow metal that people love so much last? This question is at the top of the agenda today; it is asked not only by Au fans, but also by prospectors and bankers. Everyone is wondering when our planet will run out of gold and who will get the last gram of this wonderful metal?

articles

• Mining history
• When will there be a shortage?
• Who has more au?

Gold bars

Mining history

In the entire history of mankind, not much precious metal has been mined. The fact is that a person’s abilities and technical equipment did not always help to find and extract Au. To see this, just look at the statistics:

• before 500, about 10.5 thousand tons were mined;
• from 500 to 1500 about 2.5 thousand tons were mined;
• Today, about three thousand tons are mined annually in the world;
• Over the years of its existence, humanity has managed to extract about 160 thousand tons.

That is, over the years of development of civilization, the production of precious metal has increased many times. But the presented data is difficult to consider 100% reliable, since some information relating to Au is shrouded in secrecy.

There is information that concerns gold mining; it still raises doubts and bewilderment not only among skeptics, but also among very authoritative scientists. The fact is that people have not always thought about how much metal they spend and when its reserves will run out.

How much gold is left in the world and how long will it last? According to some reports, the metal on Earth will run out in a few centuries, there is not much of it left, and it is also necessary to take into account the fact that production volumes are constantly growing.

Africa produces the most precious metals; the gold mining industry is thriving in this country. But it is worth keeping in mind that illegal gold mining is also thriving in South Africa, and the exact size of the precious metal extracted from the bowels of the earth is difficult to determine.

In addition to Africa, the following countries have been on the list of leaders for many years:

1. Australia.
2. America.
3. Russia.
4. China.

Since the 19th century, mining of the precious metal has increased in Australia. Au is found in mines and mines, but the country’s subsoil is not only famous for this element. Fancy diamonds and rare semi-precious and precious stones are mined on its territory.

If we talk about America, then this country was “fevered” with gold several times. But most of all Au was found in the 60–70s of the 20th century.

The precious metal began to be mined on the territory of our country relatively recently, under Peter I. But, despite this, reserves have become significantly depleted, and today Russia is not among the top 5 leaders in Au mining.

World gold reserves

China has significantly succeeded in gold mining; in this country, the precious metal is mined using the mining method. The largest amount of Au in Asian countries was mined in the 16th–17th centuries. Later, production volumes began to decline and gradually the palm passed to America.

It makes no difference exactly where and how much precious metal is mined today; all the same, reserves are gradually depleted and sooner or later humanity will inevitably face a shortage of gold on the planet. What to do then?

When will there be a shortage?

Experts give different estimates on the size of precious metal deposits that exist on the planet today. The fact is that only those deposits that are currently operating are considered; their reserves are estimated approximately. When predicting a particular outcome, experts often disagree. Some say that gold will last for 20 years, while others claim that during the 2nd–3rd centuries, humanity will not know what a shortage of the yellow metal is.

Our planet is rich in various elements and most of them are not found on the surface of the earth, but in its depths. Au was no exception; the 79th element of D.I. Mendeleev’s table is hidden from human eyes under tons of rock.

Geologists unanimously claim that deposits of the precious metal are located deep in the earth, they are in close proximity to the core of the planet. From an economic point of view, developing such deposits is unprofitable. But the situation may change radically.

All skeptics should cite the example of the Soviet Union, on whose territory they searched for and developed only alluvial deposits, and did not develop indigenous ones at all. The reason for this was the reluctance of the authorities to develop the industry and spend money on equipment and specialists.

But sooner or later there will be a shortage, and then what? Today, scientists have three options for the development of events:

1. Mining precious metals from space.
2. Recycle recyclable materials.
3. Filter the water of the seas and oceans.

How much gold is mined and how much remains in the bowels of the earth does not matter, since it all came to us from space. Au came to Earth from the space of the Universe. And there is a chance to mine the precious metal on the territory of not only our planet, but also other celestial bodies. For example, quartz deposits were recently discovered on Mars, and quartz is the main satellite of gold.

Already today, the recycling industry is thriving, with citizens taking broken jewelry to pawn shops. They are melted down and new, very beautiful products are made from the resulting material.

Au is present in sea water; this discovery did not strike the world only because experts have not yet found a single method that would allow extracting the element from the depths of the seas and oceans. Today, experts are working on the problem of extracting Au from water and are ready to offer a new, alternative extraction method using bacteria that combine precious metal ions.

And about 10-11% of gold is destroyed during storage, subject to mechanical damage and one way or another ends up in nature again.

Who has more au?

But it is worth assessing not only the production volumes, but also the size of the reserves of the noble element that exist in a particular country.

So who has more precious metal?

• According to research by one of the large US companies, Australia contains the most Au. There are several large deposits on the territory of this country; according to experts, gold deposits amount to more than nine thousand tons.
• If you believe the experts, our country has successfully placed in second place. The depths of the rock contain about eight thousand tons of precious metal.
• But the leader in world gold production, Africa, closes the top three in terms of reserves. There are no more than six thousand tons of precious metal left in South Africa.

The research was carried out by the USGS Geological Survey; experts from this organization also managed to find out that no more than two thousand tons of Au remained in China.

It is difficult to say exactly how much gold is left in the world. Because experts take into account only the information they currently have. They evaluate deposits that are in development, are being exploited or will be exploited in the near future. Possible mining sites are not even considered, since this information is considered unreliable.

Comparing the reserves that were on the planet and those that remain, the question arises: where does humanity spend gold? The answer to this question is simple: people store the metal because about 40-45% of all Au mined was converted into bullion and is now the gold reserve of more countries.

The United States had the largest reserve of the precious metal in 1949; about 22 thousand tons were stored in reserves.

But, despite the fact that the inhabitants of the planet keep records of precious metals, they can still be surprised. One of the remarkable events happened about 50 years ago, when in the capital of Thailand, Bangkok, they decided to move and at the same time restore a statue of Buddha. It was believed that the statue was made of stone. But during dismantling, the “stone” split and the workers noticed that the Buddha was made of gold. The weight of the statue was about 5.5 tons.

It is unknown how many more finds humanity expects, but one thing is known: over the years, people’s love for the precious metal only grows stronger. They are ready to buy Au, melt it into bars, make jewelry, but humanity will certainly not be able to part with gold once and for all. People will look for Au everywhere and sooner or later they will find it.

Source: https://DedPodaril.com/zoloto/imform/skolko-v-mire-zolota.html

The most common metal in the earth's crust. Metals in nature

Metals are a group of elements that have unique properties such as electrical conductivity, high heat transfer, positive resistance coefficient, characteristic luster and relative ductility. This type of substance is simple in chemical compounds.

Classification by groups

Metals are among the most common materials used by mankind throughout history. Most of them are located in the middle layers of the earth's crust, but there are also those hidden deep in mountain deposits.

At the moment, metals occupy most of the periodic table (94 out of 118 elements). Of the officially recognized groups, it is worth noting the following groups:

1. Alkaline (lithium, potassium, sodium, francium, cesium, rubidium).

When in contact with water they form hydroxides.

2. Alkaline earth (calcium, barium, strontium, radium). They differ in density and hardness.

3. Light (aluminum, lead, zinc, gallium, cadmium, tin, mercury). Due to their low density, they are often used in alloys.

4. Transitional (uranium, gold, titanium, copper, silver, nickel, iron, cobalt, platinum, palladium, etc.). They have variable oxidation states.

5. Semi-metals (germanium, silicon, antimony, boron, polonium, etc.). They have a crystalline covalent lattice in their structure.

6. Actinides (americium, thorium, actinium, berkelium, curium, fermium, etc.).

7. Lanthanides (gadolinium, samarium, cerium, neodymium, lutetium, lanthanum, erbium, etc.).

It is worth noting that there are metals in the earth’s crust and those that are not defined in groups. These include magnesium and beryllium.

In nature, there is a separate class of crystal chemical codification. These elements include native metals. These are minerals that are not related to each other in composition. Most often, native metals in nature are formed as a result of geological processes. 45 substances are known in the crystalline state in the earth's crust.

Most of them are extremely rare in nature, hence their high cost. The share of such elements is only 0.1%. It is worth noting that finding these metals is also a labor-intensive and expensive process. It is based on the use of atoms with stable shells and electrons.

Native metals are also called noble metals. They are characterized by chemical inertia and stability of compounds. These include gold, palladium, platinum, iridium, silver, ruthenium, etc. Copper is most often found in nature. Iron in the native state is present mainly in mountain deposits in the form of meteorites.

The rarest elements of the group are lead, chromium, zinc, indium and cadmium.

Basic properties

Almost all metals under normal conditions are hard and resistant. The exception is francium and mercury, alkali metals. The melting point for all elements of the group is different. Its range ranges from -39 to +3410 degrees Celsius. Tungsten is considered the most resistant to melting. Its compounds lose their stability only at temperatures above +3400 C. Among the easily melted metals, lead and tin should be distinguished.

Elements are also divided according to density (light and heavy) and plasticity (hard and soft). All metal compounds are excellent conductors of current. This property is determined by the presence of crystal lattices with active electrons. Copper, silver and aluminum have the maximum conductivity, sodium has a slightly lower conductivity. It is worth noting the high thermal properties of metals.

Silver is considered the best heat conductor, mercury the worst.

Most often, such elements can be found in the form of compounds and ores. Metals in nature form sulfites, oxides, and carbonates. To purify compounds, it is first necessary to isolate them from the ore. The next step is alloying and finishing.

In industrial metallurgy, a distinction is made between ferrous and non-ferrous ores. The former are built on the basis of iron compounds, the latter - on other metals. Precious metals are considered platinum, gold and silver. Most of them are located in the earth's crust.

However, a small share also comes from sea water.

There are noble elements even in living organisms. Humans contain about 3% metal compounds. To a large extent, the body contains sodium and calcium, which act as an intercellular electrolyte. Magnesium is necessary for the normal functioning of the central nervous system and muscle mass, iron is good for the blood, copper is good for the liver.

Finding metal compounds

Most elements are located everywhere under the top layer of soil. The most common metal in the earth's crust is aluminum. Its percentage varies within 8.2%. Finding the most common metal in the earth's crust is easy, as it occurs in the form of ores.

Iron and calcium are found a little less frequently in nature. Their percentage is 4.1%. Next come magnesium and sodium - 2.3% each, potassium - 2.1%. The remaining metals in nature occupy no more than 0.6%.

It is noteworthy that magnesium and sodium can be equally obtained both in land and in sea water.

Metallic elements occur in nature in the form of ores or in a native state, such as copper or gold. There are substances that need to be obtained from oxides and sulfides, for example, hematite, kaolin, magnetite, galena, etc.

Metal production

The procedure for extracting elements comes down to extracting minerals. The discovery of metals in nature in the form of ores is the simplest and most common process in wide industry. To search for crystalline deposits, special geological equipment is used to analyze the composition of substances on a specific piece of land.

Less often, the discovery of metals in nature comes down to the banal open-underground method.

After mining, the enrichment stage begins, when ore concentrate is separated from the original mineral. To distinguish elements, wetting, electric current, chemical reactions, and heat treatment are used.

Most often, the release of metal ore occurs as a result of melting, that is, heating with reduction.

Aluminum mining

This process is carried out by non-ferrous metallurgy. In terms of the scale of consumption and production, it is a leader among other heavy industries. The most common metal in the earth's crust is in great demand in the modern world. In terms of production volume, aluminum is second only to steel. This element is most used in the aviation, automotive and electrical industries.

It is noteworthy that the most common metal in the earth’s crust can also be obtained “artificially”. Such a chemical reaction would require bauxite. Alumina is formed from them. By combining this substance with carbon electrodes and fluoride salt under the influence of electric current, the purest aluminum ore can be obtained.

The leading country among producers of this component is China. Up to 18.5 million tons of metal are smelted there per year.

The leading company in a similar ranking for aluminum production is the Russian-Swiss association UC RUSAL.

Application of metals

All elements of the group are durable, impenetrable and relatively resistant to temperature. This is why metals are so common in everyday life.

Today, they are used to make electrical wires, resistors, equipment, and household items.

Metals are ideal structural and tool materials. Pure and combined alloys are used in construction.

In mechanical engineering and aviation, the main connections are steel and harder bonds.

Source: https://FB.ru/article/187099/samyiy-rasprostranennyiy-metall-v-zemnoy-kore-metallyi-v-prirode

The heaviest metal in the world: list of TOP 10 elements in the periodic table by density

Hello, friends!

Did you know that initially the periodic table contained a zero group, in which ether stood along with the inert gases?
Although that’s not what we’re talking about today. 10 million dollars - this is the amount that 1 gram of the rarest metal in the world, California, is valued at. The second place in rarity, and therefore in price, is occupied by osmium.

In addition, it is also the heaviest metal in the world, although some scientists believe that this position should be occupied by iridium.

Which metal is the heaviest?

To determine which is heavier, you need to compare atomic weights and see which has a higher density. According to these indicators, osmium and iridium, which is inferior to it by fractions of cubic centimeters, are considered the heaviest today. Imagine: an osmium cube with eight-centimeter sides weighs almost 12 kg!

I suggest you look at the photo of the heaviest metal:

And this is iridium:

Handsome, aren't they?

Top 10 heaviest metals in the world

I suggest you familiarize yourself with the elements according to their rating.

Tantalum

Considered a rare and not very heavy metal, it has a density of 16.65 g/cm³. It is used by surgeons - it is practically indestructible and rust-proof, and is easy to process.

Uranus

The density of uranium is 19.07 g/cm³. Its main difference from its counterparts is natural radioactivity. During the transformation process that uranium atoms undergo, the substance turns into another radiating element. The chain of transformations consists of 14 stages, one of them is the transformation into radium, the last stage is the formation of lead. True, it will take more than one billion years for the complete transition of uranium to lead.

Tungsten

Tungsten (19.25 g/cm³) is jokingly called an ideal candidate for counterfeiting gold bars. This is the most refractory material, the melting point is close to the photosphere of the Sun - 3422 °C. Therefore, it is best suited for filaments in incandescent lamps.

Gold

Gold density is 19.3 g/cm³. Soft, viscous, with good thermal and electrical conductivity, it is not afraid of chemical attack. Gold is not only found on the surface of the Earth. 5 times more of it is contained in the planet's core.

Plutonium

This element is one of the stages of radioactive transformation of uranium. It also exists in the depths of the planet, but in minute quantities. Its density is 19.7 g/cm³. Due to its radioactivity, plutonium is always warm and is a poor conductor of current and heat.

Neptunium

This is another creation of uranium, obtained through nuclear reactions. Density – 20.25 grams per cubic centimeter. Neptunium is a fairly soft and malleable material that reacts slowly with air and water.

Rhenium

Rhenium is another refractory, malleable, oxidation-resistant element. Melting point – 2000 °C. In total, the world's reserves of the element are approximately 17,000 tons. Rhenium density is 21.03 g/cm³. It is used in medicine, jewelry, vacuum technology, electronic devices and metallurgy.

Platinum

Platinum, although not the heaviest metal, is quite close to this - 21.45 g/cm³. It is used not only by jewelers, but also by surgeons, investment professionals, the chemical and glass industries, automotive, biomedicine and electronics. Platinum is extremely durable and products made from it are difficult to scratch. This element is found 30 times less frequently than gold.

Iridium

The difference between iridium and osmium in density is in hundredths of a gram. Iridium is refractory and is considered rare and precious. Does not interact with acids, air and water. It is used to control welding seams, and in paleontology and geology it is used as an indicator of the layer formed after the fall of a meteorite.

Characteristics of the densest metal

Scientists agreed that, despite almost the same density, iridium is only slightly inferior to the heaviest metal. However, the physicochemical properties of these two elements have not yet been fully studied.

The rarity and labor-intensive nature of extraction determine the cost of osmium - on average, $15,000 per gram. It is included in the platinum group and is conventionally considered noble, but the name of the metal contradicts its status: in Greek “osme” means “smell”. Due to its high chemical activity, osmium smells like a mixture of garlic or radish with chlorine.

The melting point of the heaviest metal is 3033 °C, and it boils at 5012 °C.

Solidifying from the melt, osmium forms beautiful crystals with an interesting blue or silver-blue tint. But, despite its beauty, it is not suitable for making precious accessories, since it does not have the properties necessary for jewelers: malleability and plasticity.

The element is valuable only because of its special strength. Alloys to which very small doses of the heaviest metal are added become incredibly wear-resistant. Usually it is used to cover units that are subject to constant friction.

History of discovery

The years 1803-1804 became a turning point for the heaviest metal: it was at this time that its discovery took place practically under competition conditions.

First, the English chemist Smithson Tennant and his assistant William Hyde Wollaston, who made more than one important discovery, discovered an unusual sediment with a characteristic odor during an experiment with platinum ores and nitric and hydrochloric acids and shared their discovery with others.

Then the French scientists Antoine de Fourcroy and Louis-Nicolas Vauquelin took over the baton and, based on previous and their own research, announced the discovery of a new element. The name was given to it “pten”, which means “flying”, since as a result of the experiments they received flying black smoke.

However, Tennant did not sleep either: he continued his research and did not lose sight of the experiments of the French. As a result, Smithson achieved more concrete results and, in an official document sent to the Royal Society of London, indicated that he had divided pten into two related elements: iridium (“rainbow”) and osmium (“smell”).

Conclusion

Do you agree that physics and chemistry outside the school curriculum are incredibly interesting? Continuing the topic, watch the video about the heaviest metal:

Source: https://zhazhdazolota.ru/interesnoe/samyj-tyazhelyj-metall

What metal is most abundant in the Universe?

The most common chemical element on our planet is carbon. But on the scale of the Universe, the Earth is just a grain of sand among an endless sea of ​​stars and galaxies. And in this regard, it becomes interesting, what does our Universe consist of? What is the basis of distant planets and asteroids? What is the most important element of the periodic table?

The most abundant chemical element in the Universe

If we talk about which element is the most common in the Universe, then everything will be very simple. Hydrogen comes first, followed by helium, oxygen, neon, and iron closes the top five. Now let's think about which element stands out from the overall picture.

Right! Iron! Why? Yes, because all other representatives of the periodic table, except iron, are gases. And iron is a metal. Thus, iron is the most common metal in the entire Universe. Moreover, it is one of the most important, because if gases mainly form the atmosphere of celestial bodies, then iron is the basis of the planets. This means we can say that if there were no iron, then most objects in the Universe would not exist.

How scientists determined that iron is the most abundant metal in the Universe

According to The Astrophysical Journal, a group of astrochemists from the United States came to this conclusion by calculating the absorption spectrum of iron clusters. That is, scientists conducted a spectral analysis of distant objects. Without going into details, it can be explained as follows.

When we see something, it means that light is reflected from that object and we capture these light waves. Light is a mixture of electromagnetic vibrations, and each vibration has its own wavelength and, accordingly, its own color. There are 7 primary colors, as well as shades and transitions between them.

When spectral analysis is performed, it examines exactly how chemical elements absorb or reflect light. The result is a spectrogram. Based on the resulting picture, we can draw a conclusion about the characteristics of the object that emitted light. A simple example is a rainbow after the rain.

Raindrops share the light coming from the Sun.

Spectrogram. 1.4 - spectra of sodium, 2.5 - spectra of hydrogen, 3.6 - spectra of helium

: How will the universe die?

Where is the “space hardware” located?

Most of the iron in the Universe is concentrated inside planets and in interstellar gas. In addition, as the new study shows, quite a bit of iron is bonded to carbon, forming special molecules called polyines. Moreover, it was previously assumed that these same polyines are carbon compounds without iron impurities.

“Iron atoms combine into special compounds with carbon and the main problem is that these compounds have almost the same spectrum as pure hydrocarbons. So we could have easily missed them previously,” says lead study author Frank Timmes.

Want to learn something new? Subscribe to our channel in Yandex.Zen. They regularly publish materials that cannot be found on the website.

Source: https://Hi-News.ru/space/kakogo-metalla-bolshe-vsego-vo-vselennoj.html