Important Facts about Some Metals and Alloys | Lucent for GK - UPSC PDF Download

Alkali Metals: Group 1st element are called alkali metals because its hydroxides are alkaline.Alkaline Earth Metals: Group 2nd elements are called alkaline earth metals.Actinides Series: Radio-active elements. 

Transition Metals: Generally transition metals & their compounds are colored. 

Metal's name & fact starting with the letter 'A':

• Aluminum hydroxide (AlOH₃):  used to make waterproof & Stainless cloth.
• Auric chloride (AuCl₃): used to make antivenom needle.

Metal's name & fact starting with the letter 'B':

• Babbitt metal/ Non-Ferrous Alloy: It contains [Tin(Sn)- 89%, Antimony(Sb)- 9%, & Copper(Cu)- 2%] = used in engine to support moving mechanical parts & protects them from frictional degradation.
• Barium (Ba): In fireworks, green color is due to Barium.
• Barium Sulphate (BaSO₄): used in X-ray of the abdomen as barium-meal.

Metal's name & fact starting with the letter 'C':

• Calcium Hydride/Hydrolith (CaH₂): used as dry alcohol. It is used to prepare fire-proof & waterproof clothes.
• Calcium hypochlorite Ca(ClO₂): Bleaching powder, used for water treatment.
• Cadmium rod: used in the Nuclear reactor to slow down the speed of the neutron.
• Chromium trioxide(CrO₃)/Chromic Acid: used for chrome plating on a metal object.
• Cobalt-60 (Co-60): used in Cancer treatment.
• Cytochrome: In cytochrome Iron (Fe) is present.

Metal's name & fact starting with the letter 'F':

• Ferric oxide (Fe₂O₃): the reaction with Aluminium (Al) is used to fill up the cracks of railway tracks & machine parts = Thermite reaction.

Metal's name & fact starting with the letter 'G':

• Gun powder: contains [ Pottasium nitrate(KNO₃)- 75%, Sulphar- 10%, Charcoal- 15%].
• Galvanised Iron (Fe) is coated with Zinc - to prevent rusting.
• Gallium (Ga) metal: liquid at room temperature.
• Gold (Au): Pure gold is 24 carat. To harden the gold, copper (Cu) is mixed.

Metal's name & fact starting with the letter 'I':

• Iron & Mercury (Fe & Hg): produces more resistance in comparison to other during the flow of electricity.
• Iron Pyrites (FeS₂): known as Fool's gold.
• Iron(Fe): wrought Iron is the purest form of Iron.
• Iron Cast: percentage of Carbon in cast iron = 2.5 - 5%, wrought iron = 01 - 0.2%
• Iron (Ferric) oxide (Fe₂O₃): the reaction with Aluminium (Al) is used to fill up the cracks of railway tracks & machine parts = Thermite reaction.
• Iron(Fe): Anemia is caused due to deficiency of Iron in the body while excess iron in the body may cause siderosis.

Metal's name & fact starting with the letter 'L':

• Lead (Pb): used to write on paper as it is a 'stable element'. Combustion of petrol in automobiles pollutes the air by producing the lead.
• Lead arsenic (PbHASO₄): is an alloy used to make bullets.
• Lead Carbon: used to make an artificial part of the body. 
• Lead Oxide(PbO)/Litharage: used in rubber industries in the manufacturing of storage batteries & flint glass.
• Lead-pipe: is not used for drinking water because it forms poisonous lead hydroxide Pb(OH₂).
• Lead & Tin: used in fuse-wire.
• Lithium (Li): the highest & the most reductant element.

Metal's name & fact starting with the letter 'M':

• Mercury (Hg): known as 'Quick Silver'. It is kept in Iron (Fe) pot because it doesn't form the amalgam with Iron.
• Mercury & Argon: vapor of mercury(Hg) & argon(Ar) is used in tubelight.

• Nitrogen (N₂) gas: In flash-bulb, Magnesium (Mg) wire is kept in an atmosphere of Nitrogen gas.
• Nichrome (NiFeCr): wire used in the electrical heater.

• Oxides of metals are alkaline.
• Osmium (Os): heaviest metal.

• Platinum (Pt): hardest metal.
• Palladium (Pd) metal: used in an airplane.
• Potassium (K): Onion & Garlic have an odor due to Potassium.
• Potassium Carbonate (K₂CO₃): Known as "Pearl Ash"- used in making soap & glass.

• Radium (Ra): extracted from pitchblende (Uraninite).
• Rusting of Iron(Fe₂O₃): = Chemical changes that increase the weight of Iron.

• Selenium (Se): used in the photoelectric cells.
• Silver & Copper (Ag & Cu): best conductor of electricity.
• Silver & Gold (Ag & Au): most malleable metal.
• Silver Chloride (AgCl): used in photochromatic glass.
• Silver Iodide (AgI): used in artificial rain.
• Silver Nitrate (AgNO₂): used as Marker during an election. It is kept in a colored bottle to avoid decomposition.
• Silver Sulfide(Ag₂S): Silver spoon is not used in egg food because it forms black Silver sulfide.   
• Sodium Peroxide (Na₂O₂): used in submarine & also to purify closed air in the hospital.
• Stannous Sulphide (SnS₂): called 'Mosaic gold'. It is used as paint. Sn shows the allotropy.
• Strontium (Sr): In fireworks, crimson red color is due to the presence of Sr.

• Titanium (Ti): Strategic metal, it is lighter than Iron (Fe).
• Tetra-ethyl lead (C₈H₂0Pb): used as an anti-knocking compound.
• Tungsten (W): melting point= 3500 degrees C. To prevent oxidation of tungsten, the air is removed from the electric bulb.

• Uranium (U): a heavy radioactive metal & it belongs to actinide group. It is used in the manufacture atom bomb.

• Wilson Disease: Excess of copper (Cu) in the human body or copper poisoning, causes inherited disorder.
• World-famous Eiffel Tower has a steel & cement base. 

• Zinc Phosphide (Zn₃P₂): used for killing rats.
• Zinc Chloride (ZnCl₂): It is coated with wooden furniture to prevent termites. Zinc Oxide (ZnO): known as 'Flower of Zinc'. It is also known as Chinese white & used as white paint.Zeolite: made up of metal ions of sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, barium & Silicon. It is used to remove the hardness of the water.Zirconium (Zr): metal burns in oxygen as well as in nitrogen.Zirconium (Zr), Cadmium (Cd), Boron (B): To capability to absorb neutrons & used in a nuclear reactor.