Uses of Metals

Constructive Uses

Iron is primarily used in the construction industry to make steel for buildings, bridges and other infrastructure. It is also used in the manufacture of cars, appliances and tools.
Aluminium is widely used in transportation (aerospace in particular due to its high strength-to-weight ratio), packaging, building and construction.
Copper is highly conductive and commonly used in electrical wiring. It is also used in plumbing and in making alloys like bronze and brass.
Lead is dense and malleable, thus used in radiation shielding, batteries and weights.

Lithium is used in rechargeable batteries due to its ability to store high energy density.
Rare earth metals, such as neodymium, are used in the manufacture of magnets for computer hard drives, electric car motors and wind turbines.
Tantalum is corrosion-resistant and is used in making electronic components for mobile phones, personal computers, and in medical devices.
Mercury is used in thermometers because of its liquid state at room temperature and its relatively large thermal expansion, making it easy to measure temperature changes.

Catalysts: Some metals, such as platinum, palladium and nickel, are used as catalysts in chemical reactions. Platinum in particular is used in the catalytic converters of car exhaust systems to decrease harmful emissions.
Chemical reagents: Certain metals can be used as reagents in chemical reactions. For instance, magnesium is used in the Grignard reaction, a key reaction in organic chemistry.

Precious metals like gold, silver, and platinum have longstanding uses in jewellery due to their attractive appearance and resistance to tarnish. They also serve as measures of wealth and factors of global and national economies.
Many modern technologies and industries would not be possible without the unique properties of certain metals. Rare earth metals, for example, are vital to the technology and renewable energy sectors.
The extraction, refinement, and sale of metals is a key industry in many countries, providing jobs and supporting the economy.

Metals can have significant environmental impacts. Mining often involves significant disruption to the landscape and habitat destruction, along with potential contamination of local water sources.
Many metals can be recycled, which reduces the need for mining and can conserve natural resources. Recycled aluminium, for example, requires only 5% of the energy to produce compared to virgin aluminium.
Disposal of metals can also pose environmental challenges. Lead and mercury are toxic and can cause environmental contamination if not disposed of properly.