Metals, Minerals, Ores : Properties, Uses Part-2

Mercury is the only common metal which is liquid at ordinary (room) temperature. Mercury is sometimes called quicksilver.

1. It is very reflective, so it’s easy to see and to read accurately.
2. It doesn’t wet the glass, so you don’t get an inaccurate reading if the temperature is falling.
3. It is a metal, so it is a conductor of heat.
4. It expands evenly with the temperature, with high circulation power, so a linear scale can be used with a high degree of accuracy.
5. There is a large range of temperature for which it is a liquid.

Metals like potassium and sodium react violently with cold water. The reaction of calcium with water is less violent. Magnesium does not react with cold water, but it reacts with hot water. Metals like aluminium, iron, and zinc do not react either with cold or hot water, but they react with steam. Metals such as lead, copper, silver, gold, and platinum do not react with water at all (neither with cold nor hot water nor with steam).

Bailadila range of mines is perched on the southern tip of Chhattisgarh in Dantewada district. Very high-grade iron ore haematite is mined at Bailadila. The association of very rich and extensive iron ores with haematite in the Bailadila range has first been made known to the world between 1898–1900 by P.N. Bose, who was the first to do geological mapping of this region.

Best conductor of heat and electricity - Silver

Metal found in highest amount - Aluminium

Most flexible metal and able to increase by bang - Gold

Minimum heat conducting - Lead