Question

What are transition metals used for in everyday life?

Answer 1

1. Transition metals belong to groups 3 to 12 of the Periodic Table. They are considered as a “transition” or “bridge” between the main group elements on either side of them on the Periodic Table.
2. A unique property of theirs is that they are essential for biological functions. For example, not enough Iron in our blood can cause Anemia. Given below are some more transition metals along with their applications in everyday life.
3. Titanium: Used in the production of aircraft parts and engines. Also used in artificial hip replacement and other implants.
4. Iron: It is the most abundant transition element in Earth's crust (about 5%). Iron mixed with Manganese and Chromium (both are also transition metals) gives Steel which is the backbone of global infrastructure. Steel is used in all sorts of construction purposes from building cars to aircraft, to name a few. It is also used as a catalyst in Haber's process to produce Ammonia.
   ${\mathrm{N}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right)+3{\mathrm{H}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right)\stackrel{\mathrm{Fe}\mathrm{catalyst},400-500°\mathrm{C}}{\to }2{\mathrm{NH}}_3\left(\mathrm{g}\right)(\mathrm{Haber}\text{'}\mathrm{s}\mathrm{Process})$
5. Cobalt: Cobalt has a brilliant blue colour hence it has found use in paints and pigments. But, it is most widely used in rechargeable batteries. Over 50% of all the Cobalt mined around the world ends up in rechargeable batteries.
6. Nickel: Nickel is naturally corrosion resistant which makes it suitable for anti-corrosive coatings. Nickel is also a component of nickel-metal hydride batteries.
7. Copper: It is the best conductor of electricity apart from Silver but being much cheaper and malleable than Silver has made Copper ubiquitous in electronics as wires. Copper is also a good conductor of heat making it quite useful to make cooking utensils out of. Copper is also important for the proper development of the fetus in the womb.
8. Chromium: Used as an anti-corrosive coating due to its corrosion-resistant properties and lustre.
9. Platinum: This metal's colour, durability and tarnish resistance make it extremely valuable worldwide for jewellery. It is also present in the anti-cancer drug cisplatin.
10. Silver: Silver is used in jewellery due to its appearance and used in printed circuit boards due to its high electrical conductivity.
11. Gold: It has a prominent use in jewellery because of its appearance and inertness toward air and water.
12. Thus, transition metals are present between the main group elements in the periodic table and are widely used in our day-to-day lives.