Uses of Metals and Non-Metals

📚 Key Concepts

🔹 Real-Life Examples

Your smartphone contains over 30 different metals! Gold in circuits (doesn’t corrode), copper in wires (conducts electricity), aluminum in the body (light but strong), lithium in batteries (reactive but controlled). Each metal is chosen for specific properties that make our modern life possible.

🧪 Uses of Metals

🔸 Based on Properties

Construction (Iron/Steel):

  • Bridges, buildings, railways
  • Why: High tensile strength, durability
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Electrical (Copper, Aluminum):

  • Wires, cables, transmission lines
  • Why: Excellent conductivity

Transportation (Aluminum, Steel):

  • Aircraft bodies, car parts
  • Why: Light but strong (Al), strong and durable (Steel)
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Decorative (Gold, Silver):

  • Jewelry, coins, awards
  • Why: Beautiful, corrosion-resistant

🔸 Specific Applications

  • Mercury: Thermometers (liquid at room temperature)
  • Tungsten: Light bulb filaments (highest melting point)
  • Zinc: Galvanization, batteries
  • Lead: Car batteries, radiation shielding
  • Titanium: Aircraft, medical implants (strong, bio-compatible)

🧪 Uses of Non-Metals

🔸 Essential for Life

  • Oxygen: Respiration, medical use
  • Nitrogen: Protein synthesis, fertilizers
  • Carbon: All organic compounds, fuels
  • Hydrogen: Clean fuel, margarine production

🔸 Industrial Applications

  • Chlorine: Water purification, PVC production
  • Sulfur: Sulfuric acid, vulcanization of rubber
  • Phosphorus: Fertilizers, matchsticks
  • Silicon: Computer chips, solar panels

🔸 Daily Life

  • Carbon (graphite): Pencils, lubricants
  • Carbon (diamond): Cutting tools, jewelry
  • Iodine: Antiseptic, thyroid health
  • Fluorine compounds: Toothpaste, non-stick cookware