What are the softest types of metal?

Índice Show

Brass
Soft Metals at Detroit Nipple Works
Key Areas Covered
Position in the Periodic Table
Block in the Periodic Table
Malleability and Ductility
Thermal and Electrical Conductivity
Electronegativity

There are various types of soft metals that are used in the industrial sphere. This variety means that not all metals are the same. In fact, soft metals can be more time-consuming than using steel. Yet, many soft metals find use in most items. So, what are these metals?

Copper

Copper is a soft metal that is found in practical use everywhere. Since 1963, copper has been widely used in plumbing systems and domestic water supplies. As a result, almost 80% of all homes have copper plumbing. This is because soft copper metal is extremely flexible. As a result, it can be bent around objects making it ideal for tubing. Furthermore, copper has resistant to water corrosion compared to other metals. In addition, copper tubing endures longer than plastic piping.

Brass

As a soft metal, brass has found popular use for fittings and pipes. In fact, industrial brass can be found in large plumbing systems and more. Just like copper, brass has found popularity because of the benefits it has over other materials. Brass pipes and nipples have high corrosion resistance. In addition to water resistance, brass can handle other materials like acids, minerals, and saltwater. Furthermore, its soft material composition makes air-tight seals that are easy to install.

Bronze

Bronze is a soft metal that has found use in commercial, residential, and light industrial use. Brass material can be found in ball valves, a spherical disk that controls the flow throughout the pipes. Bronze ball valves are typically used with HVAC systems, hot and cold water, low-pressure steam, and natural gas. In addition, these ball valves are easy to use and reliable.

Zinc

Zinc is one of the four most widely consumed metals in the world, losing out to iron, aluminum, and copper. This soft metal has strong corrosion resistance and the ability to bond with other metals. In fact, 1/2 of all the zinc is used in the galvanizing process. Galvanizing pipes is essential to prevent rust on iron and steel pipes. During galvanization, a zinc coating is applied to protect more corrosive pipes from the rusting process. As a result, you have a significantly stronger and durable pipe, nipples, and more.

Soft Metals at Detroit Nipple Works

As you can see, there are many types of soft metals that serve specific functions. These metals are used to increase the quality of the pipes, nipples, and other products through their anticorrosive properties and other functionalities. At Detroit Nipple Works, we use a variety of soft metals to create the best products for the industries we serve. Need one of our soft metal products? Contact us today!

Posted In: Soft Metals

Tags: brass nipples, bronze ball valves, copper piping, Industrial Galvanized Pipe, working with soft metals

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According to the Mohs hardness scale, a list of soft metals includes lead, gold, silver, tin, zinc, aluminum, thorium, copper, brass and bronze. Gallium might also be considered a soft metal, as it melts at 85.57 degrees Fahrenheit. Mercury is a metal that’s liquid at room temperature.

In many cases, a metal’s softness is what makes it valuable. The softness of copper allows it to be drawn into thin wires and made into both flexible and rigid plumbing pipes. Copper is too soft for other applications, but it can be alloyed to make somewhat stronger metals like brass and bronze.

Lead can also be made into plumbing pipes, and some of those pipes have been in use since the time of the Roman emperors. One reason for this is that lead is so soft that it can be easily patched by hammering or by the application of molten lead. Since the melting point of lead is about 621 degrees F, it can be melted over a regular fire.

For other metals, softness is a drawback. Precious metals like gold and silver are considered too soft to be worn every day, so they are nearly always alloyed with another metal to make them stronger.

The periodic table of elements indicates all elements that have been discovered on earth. These metals can be classified into different categories according to the similarities in their properties. However, the major way of categorizing these elements is according to the degree of metallic properties they display. Elements are categorized into metals, nonmetals and metalloids according to this classification. A metal is an element which is typically hard, shiny, fusible, malleable, and ductile, with good electrical and thermal conductivity. A nonmetal is an element that does not have the properties of a metal. A metalloid is an element having intermediate properties of both metals and nonmetals. This is the main difference between metals nonmetals and metalloids.

Key Areas Covered

1. What is a Metal
      – Definition, Properties, Examples
2. What is a Nonmetal
      – Definition, Properties, Examples
3. What is a Metalloid
     – Definition, Properties, Examples
4. What is the difference between Metal Nonmetal and Metalloid
     – Comparison of Key Differences

Key Terms: Ductility, Malleability, Metal, Metalloid, Nonmetal

Metals are elements having the highest degree of metallic behavior. Metals are found in the left side of the periodic table. They have a characteristic metallic appearance known as luster or shine. Ductility and malleability is a main feature of metals. Malleability refers to a metal’s ability to deform under pressure and ductility refers to its ability to be drawn into wire-like structures.

Metals are usually solids at room temperature. But mercury is an exception. Although Mercury is a metallic element, it is a liquid at room temperature because all other metals usually have higher melting points. Unlike other metal atoms, mercury atoms are weak at sharing electrons with each other, so they have weak interactions. Therefore, mercury atoms can easily escape, resulting in a lower melting point.

Figure 1: The Eiffel Tower – Made out of metals.

Metals are excellent heat and electrical conductors because readily lose electrons which have the ability to participate in conducting electricity. In other words, metals have free electrons. Metals normally undergo corrosion under moist conditions and in the presence of salt water.

In the periodic table, metal elements are found in all s, p, d and f blocks. Metals have less number of electrons in their outermost s and p orbitals (except for few metals). Normally metals can form cations and their oxidation numbers are nearly always positive values. Metals also show very low electronegative values and form ionic compounds.

Nonmetals are elements showing less or no metallic properties. Nonmetals have very distinct properties than those of metals and metalloids. Typically nonmetals have a dull appearance since they do not have a metallic appearance.

Unlike metals, nonmetals are not malleable or ductile. They are brittle. Nonmetal are poor conductors of electricity and heat. Compared to metals, nonmetals are less dense. Most of the nonmetals are gases. But there are liquids and solids too.

Figure 2: Diamond- made out of carbon; nonmetal

Nonmetals are included in the right side of the periodic table. These nonmetals are included in the s and p blocks. These elements have a high number of electrons in the outermost s and p orbitals. They have no or few free electrons.

Nonmetals have very low melting points. They tend to form anions by gaining electrons. They form covalent compounds. The oxidation number of a nonmetal can be either positive or negative. Electronegativity is very high in nonmetals.

Metalloids are elements having a low degree of metallic behavior. Metalloids show some metallic properties and some nonmetal properties. The appearance of metalloids can be either dull or shiny. Although they are not excellent thermal and electrical conductors, metalloids are capable of conducting heat and electricity.

The major application of metalloids is in the production of semiconductors. All metalloids are solids at room temperatures. The density of metalloids is in between metals and nonmetals. They are brittle. Metalloids are placed in p block in the periodic table. These elements are positioned in between metals and nonmetals in the periodic table. The number of electrons in the s and p orbitals is a medium number.

Figure 3: A semiconductor made out of metalloids

Metalloids form covalent bonds. Therefore, metalloids are found in covalent compounds. Since metalloids are solids in room temperature, they have high melting points. In aqueous solutions, metalloids form anions and show positive or negative oxidation numbers.

Figure 4: Position of Metals (Blue), Nonmetals (Red) and Metalloids (Green) in the Periodic Table

Definition

Metals: Metals are elements having the highest degree of metallic behavior.

Nonmetals: Nonmetals are elements showing less or no metallic properties.

Metalloids: Metalloids are elements having a low degree of metallic behavior.

Position in the Periodic Table

Metals: Metals are found in the left side of the periodic table.

Nonmetals: Nonmetals are found in the right side f the periodic table.

Metalloids: Metalloids are found in the middle of the periodic table.

Block in the Periodic Table

Metals: Metals are located in s, p, d and f blocks.

Nonmetals: Nonmetals are found in s and p blocks.

Metalloids: Metalloids are found in p block.

Appearance

Metals: Metals have a shiny appearance.

Nonmetals: Nonmetals have a dull appearance.

Metalloids: Metalloids have a dull or shiny appearance.

Malleability and Ductility

Metals: Metals show malleability and ductility.

Nonmetals: Nonmetals do not show malleability and ductility.

Metalloids: Metalloids do not show malleability and ductility.

Thermal and Electrical Conductivity

Metals: Thermal and electrical conductivity of metals is very high.

Nonmetals: Thermal and electrical conductivity of nonmetals is very low.

Metalloids: Thermal and electrical conductivity of metalloids is good but less than metals.

Electronegativity

Metals: Metals have a very low electronegativity.

Nonmetals: Nonmetals show a very high electronegativity.

Metalloids: Metalloids have an intermediate value of electronegativity.

Conclusion

Metals, nonmetals and metalloids are elements that are found in the earth. Most of these elements are used in various applications. The main difference between metals nonmetals and metalloids is that metals show the highest degree of metallic behavior and nonmetals do not show metallic behavior whereas metalloids show some degree of metallic behavior.

References:

1. Helmenstine, Ph.D. Anne Marie. “Metals Nonmetals and Metalloids – Periodic Table.” ThoughtCo. N.p., n.d. Web. Available here. 26 June 2017.
2. Libretexts. “Metals, Nonmetals, and Metalloids.” Chemistry LibreTexts. Libretexts, 25 Oct. 2016. Web. Available here. 26 June 2017.
3. Boudreaux, Kevin A. “Metals, Nonmetals, and Metalloids.” The Parts of the Periodic Table. N.p., n.d. Web. Available here. 26 June 2017.

Image Courtesy:

1.”2267674″ (Public Domain) via Pixabay
2. “Apollo synthetic diamond” By Steve Jurvetson – (CC BY 2.0) via Commons Wikimedia
3. “National Semiconductor 8250A” By Nixdorf – Own work (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia
4. “Metalli, semimetalli, nonmetalli” By Riccardo Rovinetti – Own work (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia