Chemistry of Metals and Alloys

Diamond is the hardest known substance.

The statement that all metal oxides are basic in nature is incorrect because oxides of some metals like zinc and aluminium are amphoteric in nature.

The Government of India has totally banned the export of 'Burnt Coal' (Jhama) because it contains recoverable amount of germanium element, used in transistors.

The filament of an electric bulb is made of tungsten.

Sodium metal liberates hydrogen from cold water.

Magnesium nitride can be produced by heating magnesium metal in a pure nitrogen atmosphere. 3Mg + N2 → Mg3N2

The purest form of iron is wrought iron.

Amalgams are the alloys, which always contain mercury.

German silver is an alloy of copper, zinc and nickel.

Stainless steel usually contains about 15% of chromium.

The reference electrode is made from Hg₂CI₂.

Magnesium burns brightly in oxygen to form a metal oxide called magnesium oxide with the chemical formula MgO. Magnesium is a chemical that burns with a white flame. The colours are produced by the redox reaction and depend on what kind of salt or metal is burning. To produce very bright light the creator of the fireworks will use magnesium, aluminium and titanium.

Silicon is the seventh most abundant element in the universe and the second most abundant element in the Earth's crust. Silicon with carbon atoms forms silicon carbide that is next to diamond in hardness and is therefore used for making tools used in grinding.

Pure silver is the best conductor of heat and electricity of all the known metals. So, it is sometimes used in making solder, electrical contacts and printed circuit boards. Silver actually conducts electricity more efficiently than copper.

Of all the metals, untarnished silver is the best reflector of light. As a result it was used in ancient times to make mirrors. Unfortunately, silver tarnishes very easily and quickly.