Question

Give two examples of solid elements.

Answer 1

Hint: A solid element is a three-dimensional element. It can be used to subdivide a volume. It has cross-section and thickness that varies.

Step by step answer:

Two examples of solid elements are Copper (${\text{Cu}}$) and Silver (${\text{Ag}}$).

Copper or ${\text{Cu}}$:

Copper constitutes only 0.0001 per cent of the earth's crust. Its deposits, however, are concentrated. Copper is found in nature in the following forms.
Native state: Copper is found in the metallic condition in large quantities near Lake Superior in U.S.A.; in the Ural Mountains (Russia) and Sweden.
Combined state: The principal ores of copper are sulphides, oxides and basic carbonates.
Sulphide Ores of Copper are: Chalcopyrites or copper pyrites (${\text{CuFe}}{{\text{S}}_{\text{2}}}$), Chalcocite or copper glance (${\text{C}}{{\text{u}}_{\text{2}}}{\text{S}}$), Bomite, ${\text{C}}{{\text{u}}_{\text{3}}}{\text{Fe}}{{\text{S}}_{\text{3}}}$.
Oxide Ores of Copper are: Cuprite (red), ${\text{C}}{{\text{u}}_{\text{2}}}{\text{O}}$ Basic
Carbonates of Copper are: Malachite (green) or ${\text{CuC}}{{\text{O}}_{\text{3}}}{\text{.Cu}}{\left( {{\text{OH}}} \right)_{\text{2}}}$, Azurite (blue), $\text{2CuC}{{\text{O}}_{\text{3}}}\text{.Cu}{{\left( \text{OH} \right)}_{\text{2}}}$

Silver or ${\text{Ag}}$:

Silver is a rare element as it forms only $10^{-8}$ percent of the earth's crust. However, it was known in prehistoric times and used for its colour and beauty as a precious metal. Silver is found in nature in two forms.
Native State: It occurs in the metallic condition usually associated with copper, gold and platinum metals. Native silver has been reported in a few places in Canada, United States of America, Mexico and Peru.
Combined State The important ores of silver are: (a) In the form of sulphide: (i) Argentite or silver glance (${\text{A}}{{\text{g}}_{\text{2}}}{\text{S}}$), Pyrargyrite or Ruby silver (${\text{3A}}{{\text{g}}_{\text{2}}}{\text{S}}{\text{.S}}{{\text{b}}_{\text{2}}}{{\text{S}}_{\text{3}}}$), Stromeyerite or silver copper glance ${\left( {{\text{Cu, Ag}}} \right)_{\text{2}}}{\text{S}}$, Silver is also associated in the form of ${\text{A}}{{\text{g}}_{\text{2}}}{\text{S}}$ in the lead ore, galena (${\text{PbS}}$).
The lead extracted usually contains silver and called argentiferous lead.
Silver is recovered before lead is put into use.

Additional Information:
Uses of Copper:
Copper is the most useful metal (only next to Iron) to account for its properties as it is stable in air and water and a good conductor of heat and electricity. It is used:
In the manufacture of electrical wires, cables, etc.
For making vacuum pans, heating utensils, calorimeters. etc.
For electroplating and electrotyping.
For making coins, ornaments and jewellery.
For making various compounds which are used as insecticides, pesticides and pigments.

Uses of Silver:
Silver is used in making coins, ornaments, silver-ware, decoration pieces, etc. Pure silver is too soft to be used for these purposes and is, therefore, alloyed generally with copper. Silver ornaments and utensils usually contain 80% silver and 20% copper. A silver coin has generally the composition ${\text{Ag}}$ 50%, ${\text{Cu}}$ 40%, ${\text{Zn}}$ 5% and ${\text{Ni}}$ 5%.
Silver amalgam is used in filling teeth and in silvering mirrors.
Silver leaves are used in Ayurvedic and Unani medicines.
It is used for making silver salts used in silvering of mirrors, photography and medicine.

Note: The atomic number of Copper 29 is and the atomic number of Silver is 47.
The boiling point of copper is $\text{2},\text{562}{}^\circ \text{C}$. And the melting point is $\text{1},0\text{85}{}^\circ \text{C}$.
The boiling point of silver is $\text{2},\text{162}{}^\circ \text{C}$. And the melting point of Silver is $\text{961}.\text{8}{}^\circ \text{C}$.