Introduction
The combined list of uses of all these elements could be long enough that you will get bored reading it, so we will chop it down to several different parts so it will be easier for students to understand the importance of each metal along with its uses. Let's talk about Zinc's uses; first, Zinc is used in the galvanization process in which the iron and the steel bars are dipped into hot molten Zinc to get it covered in the layer of Zinc.
Uses of Aluminium
Speaking of aluminum uses, there is one usage scenario where aluminum cannot be beaten, and that is in the manufacturing of aircraft fuselages. Aluminum is a light metal that can be easily molded into the aircraft's shape while still providing the rigidity of the metal, keeping passengers safe above 30,000 feet. On the other hand, most of the tin cans used to store food and soft drinks are made from aluminum. Most of the kitchen utensils you use in your daily life to cook food are also made from aluminum. The main reason for all of these various kitchen utensils to be made up of aluminum is their low density and non-toxic nature. Also, the thermal conductivity is pretty high, and the same goes for the melting point. Thus, you can use this element in your kitchen without any issues.
What are the Similarities between Iron, Copper, and Aluminium
All three of these elements are metals but have different molecular mass and atomic weights along with an atomic number. Likewise, all of them have luster, and all three of them are good conductors of electricity. All of them can be used to create a ring due to their resonant property. Lastly, all three of them are malleable and can be rusted easily when they contact air.
As a result, all three of them need to have a coating layer to protect them from getting rusted.
Aluminium Properties and Uses
Aluminum is the most abundant metal present in the Earth's crust, but it is hard to find it in the uncombined form. During the mining process, we can find it in minerals such as bauxite and cryolite. Also, these minerals which have aluminum in them are called aluminum silicates. There is no doubt that most of us have seen aluminum in our life as it is one metal we get to see everywhere, from our kitchens to airplanes to trash cans.
Aluminum, when not painted, is present in the silvery-white form. It's a lightweight metal that can be easily molded in any shape and size depending on the requirement and stays in that shape for the rest of the time. The melting point of aluminum is 660 degrees celsius. As a result, it is not advisable for containers made of aluminum to put in a microwave oven. On the other hand, speaking of the boiling point, the element will start boiling at 2519 degrees celsius.
What is the Use of Aluminium?
We can quickly develop 10 uses of copper as it is present in such a large quantity and has various uses. But the most critical benefit of copper is in the electrical equipment, such as in wiring the electrical component and in the motor coils. Another usage of aluminum is in the field of making coins. It is commonly found across the globe. As a result, its value isn't much, and it is used in the making of coins and other sculptures. The gunmetal also contains copper in it that allows it to quickly harden. The conductivity of both heat and electricity makes it ideal for wires that transmit electricity and signals. These were the major uses of aluminum.
Fun Facts about Copper, Aluminium and Zinc
The major uses of aluminum, along with copper and zinc, are written below.
First, copper is used as lightning protection as it's a good conductor of electricity. It takes the lightning from the top of the building and pushes it down to the ground.
Besides that, aluminum is the one metal that doesn't rust and weighs one-third of steel.
Likewise, Zinc has a self-healing property as its coating self sacrifices itself by going through a galvanic reaction to protect the steel on which it is coated.
These were some of the uses of iron copper aluminum-zinc.
Basic Elements: Iron, Copper, and Zinc
Iron, copper, aluminum, and zinc are the most basic elements in the study of chemistry. These important elements are introduced in chemistry classes much earlier in schools. However, their properties and characteristics are mainly studied in class VIII, chapter 3 metals and nonmetals. This chapter is prescribed by the Central Board of secondary education and therefore holds significant weightage in the examination.
There are various types of elements and copper, zinc and iron are elements that fall under the category of D block elements. These elements are found in the third group to the 12th group of the modern periodic table. D Block elements are also called transition elements or transition metals. The element aluminum falls under the category of P block elements. These elements are those in which the last electron comes in the P orbitals. These elements are found in groups 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17, helium being an exception.
The atomic number of copper is 29, the atomic number of zinc is 30, the atomic number of iron is 26 and the atomic number of aluminum is 13. Iron, zinc, copper and aluminum all fall under the category of metals and therefore are moderate to good conductors of electricity. They have various physical and chemical properties and all of these are extremely useful in industrial and domestic fields.
Key Concepts Necessary to get a Better Understanding of These Elements are-
Physical Properties of Metals and Non-metals
Chemical Properties of Metals
What happens when Metals are burnt in Air?
What happens when Metals react with Water?
What happens when Metals react with Acids?
How do Metals react with Solutions of other Metal Salts?
The Reactivity Series
How dO Metals and Non-Metals React?
Properties of Ionic Compounds
Occurrence of Metals
Extraction of Metals
Enrichment of Ores
Extracting Metals Low in the Activity Series
Extracting Metals in the Middle of the Activity Series
Extracting Metals towards the Top of the Activity Series
Refining of Metals
Electrolytic Refining
Corrosion
Prevention of Corrosion
FAQs on Uses of Iron, Copper, Aluminium and Zinc
1. Find out and write about the two uses of Aluminium?
In the real world, it is hard to find aluminum in its pure form. You will see several products that use aluminum alloy to form a much harder compound. But when it comes to manufacturing precision tubing, the strong ability to transfer heat makes it an excellent choice for automotive parts such as the engine, AC, and solar market industry. Aluminum is lightweight and is used to carry energy for a longer distance.
But due to its poor electrical conductivity, the manufacturers need to mix it with other metals such as copper to get the job done. The ability to easily withstand the corrosion for a long time without needing any extra touch-ups is the added bonus that makes it ideal for electrical poles and wires.
2. What is the Application of Aluminium?
You might not think of this, but aluminum is also used in construction work, from bridges standing tall on the river to ladders, railings, rods, doors, and wiring. Everything uses aluminum in one way or the other. Aluminum requires low maintenance, and you can paint it easily. Likewise, its property of quickly getting molded into any shape and joining different materials to form a bond leaves us with no reason not to consider it for important construction projects.
We get to see this element daily in our lives. Lastly, aluminum is also used in making computer parts, more specifically CPUs, graphical units, and heat sinks which takes away the heat from the system and cools it down.
3. What are the uses of iron?
The symbol of iron in chemistry is Fe. The atomic number of iron is 26, the atomic mass of iron is 55.85 g.mol-1.
Iron falls under the category of a metal which is found in the eighth group of the periodic table, its properties are lustrous, malleable, ductile, silver-grey in colour. Iron is considered the 10th Element in the universe that is the most abundant. Iron is mainly found in huge amounts at the core of the earth.
There are many uses of iron, some of them are listed here-
Iron is used mainly for industrial purposes like the manufacture of steel, it is also used in civil engineering like making concrete, girders etc.
Iron is also used to produce alloy steels with additives like manganese, nickel, chromium, tungsten, vanadium.
Iron is also used to make rifle barrels, electricity pylons, bicycle chains, bridges and cutting tools.
Basic cast iron contains 3 to 5% of carbon which is used for pumps, valves, pipes.
The catalyst of iron is also used in producing ammonia which is known as the Haber process.
The alloys and compounds of iron are also used to make magnets.
4. What are the uses of copper?
The symbol for copper in chemistry is Cu. The atomic number of copper is 29, the atomic mass of copper is 63.546 g.cm-3 at 20°C.
Copper is also a metal, it is a soft metal but tough, it can be easily mixed with other metals to produce alloys such as bronze and brass. Copper and brass are metals that can be recycled easily.
Here are some of the uses of copper-
Copper is mainly used in water purification as an agricultural poison
Other than coins, copper also produces bronze.
Copper is a metal that has been used by people since primitive times and it was discovered that copper, when mixed with a little tin, can be hard and which produces bronze therefore, this age was named the bronze age.
Copper is used to make various kinds of things like cooking foil, cans, electricity cables, saucepans and space vehicles
Conducting electricity is an extremely important use of copper as most of the wires accounts for more than 50% of copper consumption
5. What are the uses of aluminium?
Aluminium can be found in group 13 of the periodic table. It is a lightweight silvery-white metal. Like iron, aluminium is also a metal that is produced in abundance in the earth‘s crust. There are certain chemical properties of aluminium because of which it cannot occur naturally in the earth‘s crust and therefore its compounds are available in almost all rocks, animals and vegetation.
Here are some uses of aluminium-
Aluminium is abundantly used in the packaging industry for producing cans, foils, coils and other wrapping material.
Many utensils and watches are also made from aluminium.
It is also used in construction industries for the purpose of manufacturing doors, windows, roofing and wires.
Coins are also made of alloys of aluminium.
6. What are the uses of zinc?
The chemical symbol for zinc is Zn. The atomic number of zinc is 30 and the atomic mass is 65.37 g.mol -1.
Zinc is present in the human body where it functions as an integral part of an enzyme. Here are some uses of zinc-
Zinc is mainly used for producing zinc oxide or the manufacturing of roofing materials
Zinc is also used in producing skincare like sunscreens to also producing nuclear reactors
Zinc helps to maintain a balance of enzymes in the human body
Zinc is used as a white pigment for oil-based paints
Zinc is also used as an additive to the rubber that is used to make automobile tyres.
The study material on iron, copper, zinc, and aluminium is easily available on Vedantu’s website. The study notes are available in a pdf format for free.
