Silicon is a chemical element with an atomic number of 14. It is a hard, brittle crystalline solid with a blue-grey metallic lustre. Silicon is the 8th most common element in the universe by mass, widely distributed in cosmic dust and planets. More than 90% of the earth’s crust comprises silicate minerals, making silicon the …
Glass is a non-crystalline amorphous solid that has a wide range of uses. Most glass is manufactured by quenching (rapid cooling) of the molten form although some occur naturally, like volcanic glass. Silicate-based glasses are the most familiar type of glass, and they are also the oldest. Have you ever wondered if glass is conductive? …
Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc, and it is similar to bronze (made up of copper and tin). In general, both alloys contain other elements including aluminium, manganese, silicon, etc. Historically, the distinction between the two has not been completely clear. Today, brass is used in a range of applications from locks to …
Lead is a chemical element with an atomic number of 82. It is shiny grey with a tint of blue, although it turns to a dull grey color when exposed to air. Lead is a heavy metal that is denser than most common materials and has a wide range of applications from batteries to construction. …
Bronze is an alloy consisting of copper mixed with about 12-12.5% tin and other metals like aluminum, manganese, nickel, etc. It sometimes also includes non-metals such as phosphorus and metalloids like silicon. Because of the various additions, these alloys are usually stronger than copper alone and have other useful properties like ductility or machinability. Have …
Carbon steel is an iron-carbon alloy that consists of about 0.05 to 2.1% of carbon by weight. It usually also contains other elements like cobalt, nickel, and chromium, although there is no minimum required specification for these. It is used to create a wide range of products, from cutting tools to automobile parts. Have you …
Aluminium is a chemical element with the atomic number 13. It is the most widespread metal on Earth, making up about 8% of the planet’s core mass, and it is also the third most common element after oxygen and silicon. Aluminium is one of the most significant engineering materials in today’s world. Have you ever …
Zinc is a chemical element with the atomic number 30. It is the 24th most abundant mineral in the Earth’s crust and has five stable isotopes. Zinc was most likely named by the alchemist Paracelsus after the German word Zinke meaning “a prong’s spike/tooth”. Have you ever wondered if zinc is magnetic? In this article, …
Gallium (Ga) is a chemical element having the atomic number 31. It belongs to group 13 of the periodic table and behaves similarly to the other metals of the group (aluminum, indium, and thallium). Gallium was first discovered in by Paul-Emile Boisbaudran in 1875, and today it is widely used in electrical products. Have you …
Pewter is a metal alloy made up of tin, antimony, copper, bismuth, and occasionally silver. It has been used as early as the Bronze Age to make tableware and continues to help produce decorative items today. Its name “pewter” is most likely a variation of the word “spelter”, an old colloquial term for zinc alloys. …
Gold is a precious metal that has been used for jewellery and coinage throughout recorded history. Earlier, most monetary policies were built on a gold standard, until the world switched to the fiat currency system. Now gold coins have also ceased to exist, and the metal is primarily used in jewellery, investment, and industry. Have …
All of us, in our childhood, have likely had fun playing with fridge magnets. We would try to bring paperclips, nails, or any other thing, and see how they react around a magnet. Magnetism plays a crucial role in our world, and it is employed in a wide range of appliances: from the tiny earphones …
Goldstone is an artificial glittering glass that contains beautiful and reflective inclusions. It is one of the most popular man-made gems and is usually cut into cabochons, beads, and tumbled stones. Another name for goldstone is aventurine glass; it is based on the original Italian name avventurina ( “adventure” or “chance”), a reference to the …
Chrysocolla is a hydrated copper silicate mineral and mineraloid. Since ancient times, it has been a popular gemstone for carvings and ornamental use. Chrysocolla gets its name from the Greek χρυσός (chrysos) and κολλα (kolla), “gold” and “glue,” a reference to a material used to solder gold. Have you ever wondered if Chrysocolla can go …
Topaz is a silicate mineral made of aluminium and fluorine with the chemical formula of Al2SiO4(F,OH)2. It is one of the most popular coloured stones and is found in places like Brazil, Sri Lanka, Australia, etc. The stone derives its name from the Greek word Τοπάζιος (Topázios), referring to an island that was hard to …