Metals on Superphysics

Metals

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These elements are:

found on the left side and in the center of the periodic table
good conductors of heat and electricity, shiny, malleable (can be hammered into thin sheets), and ductile (can be drawn into wires).

Most metals are solid at room temperature (with mercury being an exception). Examples include iron, copper, and gold.

Lithium

Wed, 07 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000

3 Atomic Number

Lithium

Atomic Weight 6.94

Melting Point 180.54°C

Boiling Point 1342°C

Element & Symbol	Atomic Number	Major Use(s)
Lithium (Li)	3	Rechargeable batteries, ceramics/glass, mood-stabilizing drugs, alloys

Lithium of the lightest solid element. Soft, silvery-white alkali metal. Very reactive

Beryllium

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4 Atomic Number

Beryllium

Atomic Weight 9.0122

Melting Point 1287°C

Boiling Point 2469°C

Element & Symbol	Atomic Number	Major Use(s)
Beryllium (Be)	4	Rechargeable batteries, ceramics/glass, mood-stabilizing drugs, alloys

Steel-gray, very light, stiff metal; brittle and toxic. Low neutron absorption. Aerospace structural components, X-ray windows, satellites, alloying agent.

Sodium

Wed, 07 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000

11 Atomic Number

Sodium

Atomic Weight 22.990

Melting Point 97.72°C

Boiling Point 883°C

Element & Symbol	Atomic Number	Major Use(s)
Sodium (Na) 11 Soft, silvery-white alkali metal; highly reactive; floats and fizzes in water. Table salt (NaCl), street lights, chemical synthesis, coolant in nuclear reactors.

Magnesium

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12 Atomic Number

Magnesium

Atomic Weight 24.305

Melting Point 650°C

Boiling Point 1090°C

Element & Symbol	Atomic Number	Major Use(s)
Magnesium (Mg) 12 Lightweight, silvery-white metal; burns with an intense bright white flame. Lightweight alloys (aircraft, cars)

Aluminum

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13 Atomic Number

Aluminium

Atomic Weight 26.982

Melting Point 660.32°C

Boiling Point 2519°C

Element & Symbol	Atomic Number	Major Use(s)
Aluminium (Al)	13	Silvery-white, lightweight, malleable metal; forms a protective oxide layer.	Aerospace, vehicles, cans/foil, construction, electrical wiring

Potassium 19

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Soft, silvery alkali metal; very reactive, ignites in water. Essential electrolyte.

19 Atomic Number

Potassium

Element & Symbol	Atomic Number	Major Use(s)
Potassium (K)	19	Fertilizer, soaps, dietary supplement, liquid detergents, low-temperature alloys.

Calcium 20

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20 Atomic Number

Calcium

Element & Symbol	Atomic Number	Major Use(s)
Calcium (Ca)	20	Steelmaking (desulfurizer), cement/mortar, dietary supplement (bones), antacid.

Scandium 21

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Malleable, ductile, silvery metal; ferromagnetic; core of Earth; rusts easily.

21 Atomic Number

Scandium

Element & Symbol	Atomic Number	Major Use(s)
Scandium (Sc)	21	Silvery-white, light transition metal; improves aluminum alloy properties.	High-performance aluminum-scandium alloys (aerospace, sports equipment).

Titanium 22

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Strong, lustrous, corrosion-resistant metal; low density; biocompatible

22 Atomic Number

Titanium

Element & Symbol	Atomic Number	Major Use(s)
Titanium (Ti)	22	Aircraft/jet engines, medical implants, paints (white pigment), sporting goods.

Vanadium v023

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Hard, silvery-gray, ductile metal; improves steel strength.

23 Atomic Number

Vanadium

Element & Symbol	Atomic Number	Major Use(s)
Vanadium (V)	23	Steel alloying agent (tools, structural), redox batteries, catalyst.

Chromium 24

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Hard, brittle, lustrous metal; resists tarnishing; gives ruby/sapphire color.

24 Atomic Number

Chromium

Element & Symbol	Atomic Number	Major Use(s)
Chromium (Cr)	24	Stainless steel, chrome plating, dyes/pigments (chrome yellow, green).

Manganese 25

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Hard, brittle, gray-white metal; essential in steelmaking; paramagnetic.

25 Atomic Number

Manganese

Element & Symbol	Atomic Number	Major Use(s)
Manganese (Mn)	25	Steel alloy (deoxidizer), batteries (alkaline, lithium-ion), animal feed.

Iron 26

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Malleable, ductile, silvery metal; ferromagnetic; core of Earth; rusts easily.

26 Atomic Number

Iron

Atomic Weight 55.845

Melting Point 1538°C

Boiling Point 2862°C

Element & Symbol	Atomic Number	Major Use(s)
Iron (Fe)	26	Steel (construction, vehicles), magnets, hemoglobin (blood), catalysts.

Cobalt 27

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Hard, lustrous, bluish-gray metal; ferromagnetic; used in blue pigments.

27 Atomic Number

Cobalt

Element & Symbol	Atomic Number	Major Use(s)
Cobalt (Co)	27	Rechargeable batteries (Li-ion), superalloys (jet engines), magnets, pigments.

Nickel 28

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Hard, silvery-white, ductile metal; corrosion-resistant; ferromagnetic

28 Atomic Number

Nickel

Element & Symbol	Atomic Number	Major Use(s)
Nickel (Ni)	28	Stainless steel, rechargeable batteries, electroplating, coins, catalysts.

Copper

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29 Atomic Number

Copper

Element & Symbol	Atomic Number	Major Use(s)
Copper (Cu)	29	Electrical wiring, plumbing, roofing, alloys (brass, bronze), electronics.

Reddish-orange, ductile, malleable metal; excellent conductor of heat/electricity

Zinc

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30 Atomic Number

Zinc

Element & Symbol	Atomic Number	Major Use(s)
Zinc (Zn)	30	Galvanizing steel, brass, die-casting, zinc-carbon batteries, sunscreen.

Bluish-white, brittle metal; protects iron from rusting (galvanization).

Gallium 31

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31 Atomic Number

Gallium

Element & Symbol	Atomic Number	Major Use(s)
Gallium (Ga)	31	Semiconductors (GaAs for LEDs, solar cells), low-melting alloys, thermometers.

Silvery metal that melts in your hand (~30°C); expands on freezing.

Germanium

Wed, 07 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000

32 Atomic Number

Germanium

Element & Symbol	Atomic Number	Major Use(s)
Germanium (Ge)	32	Fiber-optic cables, infrared optics, semiconductors, polymerization catalyst.

Lustrous, brittle metalloid; semiconductor; transparent to infrared.

Arsenic

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33 Atomic Number

Arsenic

Element & Symbol	Atomic Number	Major Use(s)
Arsenic (As)	33	Semiconductor dopant, wood preservatives (phased out), lead alloys (shot).

Metallic-gray, brittle metalloid; toxic to multicellular life.

Rubidium

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37 Atomic Number

Rubidium

Atomic Weight 85.468

Melting Point 39.31°C

Boiling Point 688°C

Element & Symbol	Atomic Number	Major Use(s)
Rubidium (Rb)	37	Atomic clocks, vacuum tube getter, specialized glass.

Rubidium is a soft, silvery-white metallic element of the alkali metal group; highly reactive.

Strontium

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38 Atomic Number

Strontium

Atomic Weight 87.62

Melting Point 777°C

Boiling Point 1382°C

Element & Symbol	Atomic Number	Major Use(s)
Strontium (Sr)	38	Fireworks (red color), ferrite magnets, cancer therapy.

Strontium is a soft, silver-yellow alkaline earth metal; known for deep red flame colors.

Yttrium

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39 Atomic Number

Yttrium

Atomic Weight 88.906

Melting Point 1526°C

Boiling Point 3336°C

Element & Symbol	Atomic Number	Major Use(s)
Yttrium (Y)	39	LEDs, phosphors (TV screens), high-temperature superconductors.

Yttrium is a silvery-metallic transition metal; chemically similar to the lanthanides.

Zirconium

Wed, 07 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000

40 Atomic Number

Zirconium

Atomic Weight 91.224

Melting Point 1855°C

Boiling Point 4409°C

Element & Symbol	Atomic Number	Major Use(s)
Zirconium (Zr)	40	Nuclear reactor cladding, jewelry (cubic zirconia), abrasives.

Zirconium is a lustrous, grey-white, strong transition metal that resembles hafnium.

Niobium

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41 Atomic Number

Niobium

Atomic Weight 92.906

Melting Point 2477°C

Boiling Point 4744°C

Element & Symbol	Atomic Number	Major Use(s)
Niobium (Nb)	41	Superconducting magnets, high-strength low-alloy steels, jet engines.

Niobium is a soft, grey, crystalline, ductile transition metal.

Molybdenum

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42 Atomic Number

Molybdenum

Atomic Weight 95.95

Melting Point 2623°C

Boiling Point 4639°C

Element & Symbol	Atomic Number	Major Use(s)
Molybdenum (Mo)	42	High-strength steel alloys, catalysts, electrical contacts.

Molybdenum is a silvery-grey metal with the sixth-highest melting point of any element.

Technetium

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43 Atomic Number

Technetium

Atomic Weight 98

Melting Point 2157°C

Boiling Point 4265°C

Element & Symbol	Atomic Number	Major Use(s)
Technetium (Tc)	43	Medical diagnostic imaging (tracer), corrosion inhibitor for steel.

Technetium is a silvery-grey radioactive metal; the lightest element without stable isotopes.

Palladium

Wed, 07 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000

46 Atomic Number

Palladium

Atomic Weight 106.42

Melting Point 1554.9°C

Boiling Point 2963°C

Element & Symbol	Atomic Number	Major Use(s)
Palladium (Pd)	46	Catalytic converters, jewelry, hydrogen purification.

Palladium is a rare and lustrous silvery-white metal; one of the six platinum-group metals.

Silver

Wed, 07 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000

47 Atomic Number

Silver

Atomic Weight 107.87

Melting Point 961.78°C

Boiling Point 2162°C

Element & Symbol	Atomic Number	Major Use(s)
Silver (Ag)	47	Electronics, jewelry, photography, mirrors.

Silver is a soft, white, lustrous transition metal; exhibits the highest electrical conductivity.

Cadmium

Wed, 07 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000

48 Atomic Number

Cadmium

Atomic Weight 112.41

Melting Point 321.07°C

Boiling Point 767°C

Element & Symbol	Atomic Number	Major Use(s)
Cadmium (Cd)	48	Ni-Cd batteries, pigments, plastic stabilizers.

Cadmium is a soft, silvery-white metal; chemically similar to zinc and mercury.

Indium

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49 Atomic Number

Indium

Atomic Weight 114.82

Melting Point 156.6°C

Boiling Point 2072°C

Element & Symbol	Atomic Number	Major Use(s)
Indium (In)	49	Liquid crystal displays (LCDs), low-melting alloys, semiconductors.

Indium is a very soft, silvery-white post-transition metal; highly ductile.

Tin

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50 Atomic Number

Tin

Atomic Weight 118.71

Melting Point 231.93°C

Boiling Point 2602°C

Element & Symbol	Atomic Number	Major Use(s)
Tin (Sn)	50	Solder, tin plating for cans, bronze/pewter alloys.

Tin is a silvery, malleable post-transition metal; resists corrosion.

Cesium

Wed, 07 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000

55 Atomic Number

Cesium

Atomic Weight 132.91

Melting Point 28.44°C

Boiling Point 671°C

Element & Symbol	Atomic Number	Major Use(s)
Cesium (Cs)	55	Atomic clocks (definition of the second), drilling fluids, photoelectric cells.

Cesium is a silvery-gold, soft alkali metal; it is the most reactive metal and liquid near room temperature.

Barium

Wed, 07 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000

56 Atomic Number

Barium

Atomic Weight 137.33

Melting Point 727°C

Boiling Point 1897°C

Element & Symbol	Atomic Number	Major Use(s)
Barium (Ba)	56	X-ray contrast agents, oil-well drilling muds, fireworks (green color).

Barium is a soft, silvery-white alkaline earth metal; highly reactive and found only in compounds.

Lanthanum

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57 Atomic Number

Lanthanum

Atomic Weight 138.91

Melting Point 920°C

Boiling Point 3464°C

Element & Symbol	Atomic Number	Major Use(s)
Lanthanum (La)	57	Hybrid car batteries, camera lenses, fluid catalytic cracking catalysts.

Lanthanum is a silvery-white, malleable transition metal; it is the prototype of the lanthanide series.

Gold

Wed, 07 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000

79 Atomic Number

Gold

Atomic Weight 196.97

Melting Point 1064°C

Boiling Point 2856°C

Element & Symbol	Atomic Number	Major Use(s)
Gold (Au)	79	Jewelry, currency, electronics (corrosion-resistant connectors), dentistry.

Gold is a dense, soft, yellow transition metal; highly malleable and resistant to most acids.

Mercury

Wed, 07 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000

80 Atomic Number

Mercury

Atomic Weight 200.59

Melting Point -38.83°C

Boiling Point 356.7°C

Element & Symbol	Atomic Number	Major Use(s)
Mercury (Hg)	80	Thermometers, fluorescent lighting, dental amalgams, barometers.

Mercury is a heavy, silvery d-block element; it is the only metallic element that is liquid at standard conditions.