Uses

Some see hydrogen gas as the clean fuel of the future generated from water and returning to water when
it is oxidised. Hydrogen-powered fuel cells are increasingly being seen as pollution-free sources of energy
and are now being used in some buses and cars.

Hydrogen also has many other uses. In the chemical industry it is used to make ammonia for agricultural
fertiliser (the Haber process) and cyclohexane and methanol, which are intermediates in the production of
plastics and pharmaceuticals. It is also used to remove sulfur from fuels during the oil-refining process.
Large quantities of hydrogen are used to hydrogenate oils to form fats, for example to make margarine.

In the glass industry hydrogen is used as a protective atmosphere for making flat glass sheets. In the
electronics industry it is used as a flushing gas during the manufacture of silicon chips.

The low density of hydrogen made it a natural choice for one of its first practical uses filling balloons and
airships. However, it reacts vigorously with oxygen (to form water) and its future in filling airships ended
when the Hindenburg airship caught fire.

Uses
The most important use of lithium is in rechargeable batteries for mobile phones, laptops, digital cameras
and electric vehicles. Lithium is also used in some non-rechargeable batteries for things like heart
pacemakers, toys and clocks.

Lithium metal is made into alloys with aluminium and magnesium, improving their strength and making
them lighter. A magnesium-lithium alloy is used for armour plating. Aluminium-lithium alloys are used in
aircraft, bicycle frames and high-speed trains.

Lithium oxide is used in special glasses and glass ceramics. Lithium chloride is one of the most hygroscopic
materials known, and is used in air conditioning and industrial drying systems (as is lithium bromide).
Lithium stearate is used as an all-purpose and high-temperature lubricant. Lithium carbonate is used in
drugs to treat manic depression, although its action on the brain is still not fully understood. Lithium
hydride is used as a means of storing hydrogen for use as a fuel.

Uses
Titanium is as strong as steel but much less dense. It is therefore important as an alloying agent with many
metals including aluminium, molybdenum and iron. These alloys are mainly used in aircraft, spacecraft and
missiles because of their low density and ability to withstand extremes of temperature. They are also used
in golf clubs, laptops, bicycles and crutches.

Power plant condensers use titanium pipes because of their resistance to corrosion. Because titanium has
excellent resistance to corrosion in seawater, it is used in desalination plants and to protect the hulls of
ships, submarines and other structures exposed to seawater.

Titanium metal connects well with bone, so it has found surgical applications such as in joint replacements
(especially hip joints) and tooth implants.

The largest use of titanium is in the form of titanium(IV) oxide. It is extensively used as a pigment in house
paint, artists paint, plastics, enamels and paper. It is a bright white pigment with excellent covering power.
It is also a good reflector of infrared radiation and so is used in solar observatories where heat causes poor
visibility.

Titanium(IV) oxide is used in sunscreens because it prevents UV light from reaching the skin. Nanoparticles of
Uses
The most important use of lithium is in rechargeable batteries for mobile phones, laptops, digital cameras
Sodium is used as a heat exchanger in some nuclear reactors, and as a reagent in the chemicals industry. But
sodium salts have more uses than the metal itself.

The most common compound of sodium is sodium chloride (common salt). It is added to food and used to
de-ice roads in winter. It is also used as a feedstock for the chemical industry.

Sodium carbonate (washing soda) is also a useful sodium salt. It is used as a water softener.

Uses
Most zinc is used to galvanise other metals, such as iron, to prevent rusting. Galvanised steel is used for car
bodies, street lamp posts, safety barriers and suspension bridges.

Large quantities of zinc are used to produce die-castings, which are important in the automobile, electrical
and hardware industries. Zinc is also used in alloys such as brass, nickel silver and aluminium solder.

Zinc oxide is widely used in the manufacture of very many products such as paints, rubber, cosmetics,
pharmaceuticals, plastics, inks, soaps, batteries, textiles and electrical equipment. Zinc sulfide is used in
making luminous paints, fluorescent lights and x-ray screens.
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Uses
Chromium is used to harden steel, to manufacture stainless steel (named as it wont rust) and to produce
several alloys.

Chromium plating can be used to give a polished mirror finish to steel. Chromium-plated car and lorry parts,
such as bumpers, were once very common. It is also possible to chromium plate plastics, which are often
used in bathroom fittings.

About 90% of all leather is tanned using chrome. However, the waste effluent is toxic so alternatives are
being investigated.

Chromium compounds are used as industrial catalysts and pigments (in bright green, yellow, red and
orange colours). Rubies get their red colour from chromium, and glass treated with chromium has an
emerald green colour.
Uses
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Platinum is used extensively for jewellery. Its main use, however, is in catalytic converters for cars, trucks
and buses. This accounts for about 50% of demand each year. Platinum is very effective at converting
emissions from the vehicles engine into less harmful waste products.

Platinum is used in the chemicals industry as a catalyst for the production of nitric acid, silicone and
benzene. It is also used as a catalyst to improve the efficiency of fuel cells.

The electronics industry uses platinum for computer hard disks and thermocouples.

Platinum is also used to make optical fibres and LCDs, turbine blades, spark plugs, pacemakers and dental
fillings.

Platinum compounds are important chemotherapy drugs used to treat cancers.

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Uses
Most mined gold is stored as bullion. It is also, however, used extensively in jewellery, either in its pure
form or as an alloy. The term carat indicates the amount of gold present in an alloy. 24-carat is pure gold,
but it is very soft. 18- and 9-carat gold alloys are commonly used because they are more durable.

The metal is also used for coinage, and has been used as standard for monetary systems in some countries.

Gold can be beaten into very thin sheets (gold leaf) to be used in art, for decoration and as architectural
ornament. Electroplating can be used to cover another metal with a very thin layer of gold. This is used in
gears for watches, artificial limb joints, cheap jewellery and electrical connectors. It is ideal for protecting
electrical copper components because it conducts electricity well and does not corrode (which would break
the contact). Thin gold wires are used inside computer chips to produce circuits.

Dentists sometimes use gold alloys in fillings, and a gold compound is used to treat some cases of arthritis.

Gold nanoparticles are increasingly being used as industrial catalysts. Vinyl acetate, which is used to make PVA (for
glue, paint and resin), is made using a gold catalyst.
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Uses
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Sterling silver contains 92.5% silver. The rest is copper or some other metal. It is used for jewellery and
silver tableware, where appearance is important.

Silver is used to make mirrors, as it is the best reflector of visible light known, although it does tarnish with
time. It is also used in dental alloys, solder and brazing alloys, electrical contacts and batteries. Silver paints
are used for making printed circuits.

Silver bromide and iodide were important in the history of photography, because of their sensitivity to
light. Even with the rise of digital photography, silver salts are still important in producing high-quality
images and protecting against illegal copying. Light-sensitive glass (such as photochromic lenses) works on
similar principles. It darkens in bright sunlight and becomes transparent in low sunlight.

Silver has antibacterial properties and silver nanoparticles are used in clothing to prevent bacteria from
digesting sweat and forming unpleasant odours. Silver threads are woven into the fingertips of gloves so
that they can be used with touchscreen phones..

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Uses
Iron is an enigma it rusts easily, yet it is the most important of all metals. 90% of all metal that is refined
today is iron.

Most is used to manufacture steel, used in civil engineering (reinforced concrete, girders etc) and in
manufacturing.

There are many different types of steel with different properties and uses. Ordinary carbon steel is an alloy
of iron with carbon (from 0.1% for mild steel up to 2% for high carbon steels), with small amounts of other
elements.

Alloy steels are carbon steels with other additives such as nickel, chromium, vanadium, tungsten and
manganese. These are stronger and tougher than carbon steels and have a huge variety of applications
including bridges, electricity pylons, bicycle chains, cutting tools and rifle barrels.

Stainless steel is very resistant to corrosion. It contains at least 10.5% chromium. Other metals such as
nickel, molybdenum, titanium and copper are added to enhance its strength and workability. It is used in