The most common metal on earth. Finding metals in nature What metal is common in the earth's crust

02.05.2024 Analyzes

What metal is most abundant in the earth's crust?

Aluminum (A1) ranks first among metals in nature: there is 60 percent more of it in the earth’s crust than iron. However, it began to be widely used only in the second half of the twentieth century. The fact is that it is very difficult to extract aluminum from ores. In 1825, the Danish scientist Hans Christian Oersted (1777–1851) was able to isolate a small amount of aluminum, but with impurities. After him, many chemists tried unsuccessfully to purify aluminum, but it was only in 1854 that the Frenchman Henri Etienne Saint-Clair Deville (1818–1881) found a way to isolate the pure metal. Aluminum is so reactive that sodium metal (an even more reactive element) had to be used to “keep” the aluminum from reacting with other substances. Aluminum, similar in color to silver, was at first highly valued - on a par with precious metals. From 1855 to 1890, only 200 tons of aluminum were produced. At that time, only Emperor Napoleon III could afford aluminum cutlery and even ordered a rattle made of the new metal for his young heir. And in the USA - as a sign of great respect for the founder of the state, George Washington - they protected his monument from above with an aluminum sheet. The modern method of producing aluminum by electrolysis of cryolite-alumina melt was developed in 1886.

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

Among the main physical properties of aluminum, the following 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;
- maintaining ductility and increasing strength at very low temperatures;
- non-toxic.

Aluminum is easily processed by mechanical means; 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, 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;
- parts of engines, cooling and heating systems;
- mirrors, telescope reflectors, reflectors;
- packaging materials with a high recycling rate;
- roofing material;
- aluminum powder for the production of paint that is 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.

The metals most commonly found in nature are widely used by humans; their role in our lives is invaluable. It is difficult to imagine production or life without aluminum, iron or magnesium.

What metals are most common?

Metals that are found most often are called common. Their share in the earth's crust exceeds one tenth of a percent. The role of such metals in the development of civilization is great. It’s not for nothing that we know about the “Iron Age”, heard about “Space Metal”, and know what “Winged Metal” is. All of these expressions refer to metals such as manganese, aluminum, titanium, iron and magnesium.

These common metals are components of many minerals. It is known that in Russia, iron, chromium and manganese are in second position in terms of production volume after fuel and energy resources. It is known that the iron resource in the world is practically unlimited, but many countries import iron ores, this also applies to Russia.

Aluminum is widely distributed in the earth. Globally, its production reaches twenty million tons, using mainly bauxite. It is known that Russia ranks ninth in terms of bauxite reserves, although it is in second place in the production of primary metal.

What are the most common metals made from?

The role of iron and its alloys in the formation of modern civilization is invaluable. In industry, this metal has always played a leading role. This role has not been lost today, however, since the second half of the twentieth century, non-ferrous metals began to acquire great importance. However, iron ore is used to produce steel and cast iron in huge quantities.

Manganese is used in metallurgy and industry, and its ability to form alloys with almost all known metals is used. Several grades of manganese steel and many non-iron alloys have been produced. The alloy of manganese and copper stands out especially. Manganese is often added to steel to increase its strength. Manganese is used to purify metals from sulfur.

Aluminum, thanks to the unique combination of its properties, is used in almost every field of technology, especially in the form of alloys. In electronics, it successfully replaces copper in the production of massive conductors. When producing electrical rectifiers and capacitors, it is impossible to do without ultra-pure aluminum. It is also used for the production of mirror reflectors.

Some twenty years ago it was rare to see window frames or building components made of aluminum. Nowadays, advertising banners, pavilions, partitions, frames for pillars, and so on are made from aluminum profiles. The popularity of this metal is explained by its amazing properties - corrosion resistance, durability and strength. The metal contains no harmful elements, which indicates the high environmental purity of the metal.

As you know, magnesium alloy has a unique property - it does not melt at ultra-high temperatures. That is why such an alloy is a real find for the manufacture of engine and aircraft parts operating at extremely high temperatures. Space rockets also cannot do without magnesium alloys.

The role of titanium in technology is important. Being six times stronger than aluminum, it is twice as heavy. Another of its useful properties is its refractoriness; it melts at a temperature of 1668 degrees, which exceeds the melting point of steel. The speed of aircraft built from titanium alloys was three times the speed of sound. Due to the friction of their skin against the atmosphere, considerable temperatures are formed, but the refractoriness of titanium prevents the skin from melting. The chemical resistance of titanium is unique. It is known that chemical equipment made of titanium alloys can be used much longer than similar equipment made of stainless steel.

The most common metal on earth

Aluminum is called a flying metal. It is well known that it is the most common metal on the planet. Its share by mass in the earth's crust is 8.6 percent. The chemical activity of this metal makes it impossible to find it in nature in its pure form, but more than one hundred aluminum minerals are known, most of them aluminosilicates.

Aluminum combines a whole range of valuable properties - high ductility and thermal conductivity, low density and electrical conductivity, in addition - corrosion resistance. Thanks to this, it can be forged, rolled, stamped, and drawn.

Its most common alloy is duralumin. It is used as a basis in the manufacture of aircraft wings and fuselages. It is known that the shell of the first artificial Earth satellite was made of aluminum alloys. It is used in construction and industry. Flying metal is used to make parts of various machines, equipment used to produce various organic substances and acids, window frames and exterior cladding of high-rise buildings, rowing and motor boats, furniture, dishes, and so on.

In France there is a three-hundred-meter aluminum ocean liner. Not only the hull is made of aluminum, but also the bulkheads, internal parts, cabin walls, and even all the furniture.

Well, the most expensive metals in the world are not included in the list of the most common... You can also read about the most expensive metals on our website.
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There are a lot of different metals on our planet. There are those that few people know about, and there is also the most common metal on Earth. This metal is the most commonly found on our planet and plays an incredible role for the development of all humanity. In our country, the most common metals mined are chromium, iron and manganese. But if we take the whole world as a whole, then the question of which metal is the most common on Earth can be confidently answered - aluminum.

Main characteristics of aluminum

The most common metal in the earth's crust is found in amounts of about nine percent of the total composition. This amount of metal, which was discovered in 1825, is truly impressive - according to scientists, even in the distant future, depletion of its reserves is not expected. However, aluminum does not occur in nature in its pure form - this is due to the strong chemical activity of the metal. But scientists have identified many minerals in which the most common metal is present.

Aluminum is highly valued for its properties. It is durable, ductile, lightweight, and does not cause difficulties in processing. It is resistant to corrosion, has a high degree of heat conductivity, is electrically conductive, and can be easily forged, rolled, stamped, and welded.

The high popularity of aluminum is explained by its strength characteristics and long service life. Also, the metal does not contain harmful components, which indicates its highest environmental friendliness.

Presence not only in the earth's crust

An interesting fact is that aluminum is found not only in the Earth’s crust - it is also found in living organisms. Metal accumulates in the liver, pancreas and thyroid glands. Beef contains approximately seventy milligrams of aluminum per kilogram.

Commonly used metal: application

Due to its abundance, aluminum is very widely used in various areas of life. Therefore, it is not at all surprising that this silver-colored metal is used in various industries (aviation, space, construction, automotive).

And how many dishes are made from this wonderful metal - flasks, spoons, forks, bowls, cups, etc. Just one hundred and fifty years ago, only the richest people ate food from such dishes, because until the end of the nineteenth century, aluminum exceeded even silver in value. This silvery metal was used to make not only dishes, but also jewelry, which noble people loved to show to the whole world. Today, anyone can eat from aluminum cookware, and it is not considered expensive. However, this does not reduce the prevalence of the metal at all.

All the characteristics inherent in aluminum allow it to be used almost anywhere. The main alloys used are those required for applications ranging from electrical engineering to space engineering. Aluminum is widely used for the production of explosives.

A common alloy is duralumin, which is used in the production of fuselages and wings of aircraft. And in France there is even an ocean liner made entirely of aluminum - the length of such a vessel is 300 meters. Moreover, the ship has not only an aluminum hull, but also many of its “insides” (cabin walls, bulkheads, furniture) are made of this silvery metal.

Until relatively recently, it was rare to see aluminum frames on windows. Today this is a ubiquitous phenomenon - especially windows with aluminum profiles are used for glazing balconies. Aluminum profiles are also used in the manufacture of advertising banners, partitions, frames for pillars, etc.

Common Precious Metals

The leader among precious metals in terms of prevalence is rhodium. It is highly resistant to corrosion, chemical attack and melting. For these characteristics it is in great demand in the automotive industry. The second most common precious metal is platinum, from which jewelry is made.

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