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

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

Classification by group

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

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

1. Alkaline (lithium, potassium, sodium, france, cesium, rubidium). Upon contact with water, they form hydroxides.

2. Alkaline earth (calcium, barium, strontium, radium). 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.). Have a variable degree of oxidation.

5. Semimetals (germanium, silicon, antimony, boron, polonium, etc.). In their structure they have a crystalline covalent lattice.

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 identified in the group. They include magnesium and beryllium.

Native compounds

In nature, there is a separate class of crystallochemical codification. These elements include native metals. These minerals are unrelated to each other. Most often, native metals in nature are formed as a result of geological processes. In the crystalline state, 45 substances are known in the earth's crust. Most of them are very 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 laborious 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. Most often, copper is found in nature. Iron in a native state is present mainly in mountain deposits in the form of meteorites. The most rare elements of the group are lead, chromium, zinc, indium and cadmium.

Basic properties

Virtually all metals under normal conditions are hard and durable. The exception is France and mercury, alkali metals. The melting point for all elements of the group is different. Its range ranges from -39 to +3410 degrees Celsius. The most resistant to melting is tungsten. Its compounds lose their resistance only at a temperature above +3400 ° C. Lead and tin should be isolated from easily molten metals. Also, the elements are divided relative to density (light and heavy) and plasticity (hard and soft). All metal connections are excellent conductors. This property is due to the presence of crystal lattices with active electrons. The maximum conductivity is copper, silver and aluminum, a little less - sodium. It is worth noting the high thermal properties of metals. The best heat conductor is silver, the worst is mercury.

Metals in the environment

Most often, such elements can be found in the form of compounds and ores. Metals in nature form sulfites, oxides, carbonates. First, it is necessary to separate them from the ore to purify the compounds. The next step will be doping and final processing.

In industrial metallurgy, black and colored ores differ. The former are based on iron compounds, the latter on other metals. Precious metals are platinum, gold and silver. Most of them are in the earth's crust. Nevertheless, a small proportion is also in seawater.

There are noble elements even in living organisms. In humans, about 3% of metal compounds are contained. Mostly in the body are sodium and calcium, which act as an intercellular electrolyte. Magnesium is necessary for normal operation of the central nervous system and muscle mass, iron is useful for blood, copper for the liver.

Finding metal compounds

Most elements are located under the top layer of the soil everywhere. The most common metal in the earth's crust is aluminum. Its percentage varies within 8.2%. Find the most common metal in the earth's crust is not difficult, since it occurs in the form of ores.

Iron and calcium in nature are met a little less often. Their percentage is 4.1%. Next come magnesium and sodium - 2.3%, potassium - 2.1%. The remaining metals in nature occupy no more than 0.6%. It is noteworthy that magnesium and sodium can equally be extracted both in land and in sea water. Metal elements in nature are found in the form of ores or in a native state, like copper or gold. There are substances that need to be obtained from oxides and sulphides, for example, hematite, kaolin, magnetite, galena, etc.

Production of metals

The extraction procedure of the elements is reduced to extracting minerals. The discovery of metals in nature in the form of ores is the simplest and most widespread process in a wide industry. To search for crystalline deposits, special geological equipment is used, which analyzes the composition of substances on a particular plot of land. Less often the finding of metals in nature reduces to a banal open-underground method.

After extraction, the enrichment stage begins, when ore concentrate is extracted from the initial mineral. To distinguish elements use wetting, electric current, chemical reactions, heat treatment. Most often, the separation of metallic ore occurs as a result of melting, that is, heating with recovery.

Extraction of aluminum

This process is handled by non-ferrous metallurgy. In terms of consumption and production, it is a leader among other branches of heavy industry. The most common metal in the earth's crust is very in demand in the modern world. In terms of production, aluminum is second only to steel. Most of this element is used in the aviation, automotive and electrical industries. It is noteworthy that the most common metal in the earth's crust can be obtained and "artificial" way. For such a chemical reaction, bauxites will be required. Of these, alumina is formed. When this substance is combined with carbon electrodes and fluoride salt under the effect of electric current, it is possible to obtain pure aluminum ore.

The country-leader among the producers of this component is China. In the year 18.5 million tons of metal are smelted there. The company-leader in the similar rating for the extraction of aluminum is the Russian-Swiss association UC RUSAL.

Application of metals

All elements of the group are distinguished by their strength, impermeability and relative resistance to temperature effects. That is why metals are so common in everyday life. Today, they make electrical wires, resistors, equipment, household items.

Metals are the ideal constructional and instrumental materials. Clean and combined alloys are used in construction. In engineering and aviation, the main compounds are steel and more solid bonds.