Metals and metal compounds are found in many different forms in the nature and man-made chemicals. It is important to distinguish between the pure element vs. the ionic form of a metal found in solid and/or solution state. Listed below are some commonly found forms of metals and their compounds. Brief description is also provided to characterize their differences.

A. Earth’s Crust – major ores-

native ores: Au, Ag, Pt, Cu

oxide ores: iron, aluminum, manganese, tin

sulfide ores: zinc, cadmium, mercury, copper, lead, nickel, cobalt, silver

carbonate ores: iron, lead, zinc, copper, calcium, barium, magnesium, strontium

halides: sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, silver

sulfates: calcium, strontium, barium, lead

silicates: beryllium, zinc, nickel

phosphates: calcium

B. Oceans

A ton of sea water contains about 55 lbs sodium chloride, 2.5 lbs of magnesium, 1.75 lbs of sulfur, 0.8 lbs calcium, 0.75 lbs potassium, 0.13 lbs bromine and smaller quantities of boron, fluorine and iodine and the metals, strontium, copper, iron, lead, zinc, uranium, silver, gold and even radon.

C. Human Blood

contains 85.2 mM of Na, 44.5 mM of K, 8.59 mM of iron, 2.42 mM of calcium, 1.57 mM of magnesium, 138.4 μM of zinc, 14.8 μM of copper, 2.18 μM of manganese and 0.71 μM of cobalt.

D. Municipal Water

Na⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Fe³⁺ and Mn²⁺ are found along with bicarbonate, chloride, sulfate and silicate anions mainly. On evaporation or boiling, calcium sulfate, carbonate and silicate form clogging scales with low thermal conductivity in boilers. Hard water contains excessive amount of Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ and these metal ions form insoluble salts with soap and detergent.

E. Pure Metals and Alloys – in consumer goods and elsewhere

bronze: 70-95% Cu, 1-25% Zn, 1-18% Sn

solder: 67% Pb, 33% Sn

battery plate: 94% Pb, 6% Sb

dentist amalgam: 50% Hg, 35% Ag, 13% Sn, 1.5% Cu, 0.5% Zn

sterling silver: 92.5% Ag, 7.5% Cu

18 carat yellow gold: 75% Au, 12.5% Ag, 12.5% Cu

18 carat white gold: 75% Au, 3.5% Cu, 16.5% Ni, 5% Zn

yellow brass: 67% Cu, 33% Zn

steels: manganese alloy steel: Fe + 10-18% Mn (railroad rails)

silicon alloy steel: Fe + 1-5% Si (magnets)

alnico: Fe + Al, Ni, Co (permanent magnets)

chrom-vanadium alloy steel: Fe + 1-10% Cr + 0.15% V (axles)

stainless steel: Fe + 14-18% Cr + 7-9% Ni (cutlery, instruments)

high-speed steels: Fe + 14-20% W or 6-12% Mo (high-speed cutting tools)

nickel alloy steel: Fe + 2-4% Ni (drive shafts, gears, cables)

mild carbon steels: Fe + up to ~0.2% C (sheet iron, wire & pipes)

medium carbon steels: Fe + 0.2-0.6% C (rails, structural steel, boiler plate)

high carbon steels: Fe + 0.6 to 1.5% C (surgical instr., razor blades, springs, cutlery)

monel metal: Ni + Cu + a little Fe – highly resistive to oxidation

nichrome and chromel: alloys containing Ni, Fe and Cr – are resistant to oxidation at high temps and show high electric resistance (elec. heating wires, stoves, toasters, irons)

bullets and bearings: Pb hardened with 10-20% Sb.

Bi/Sn/Pb alloys: low melting – used for elec. fuses, safety plugs, automatic safety plugs

Roses metal: 50% Bi, 25% Pb, 25% Sn – melts at 94 °C

Woods metal: 50% Bi, 25% Pb, 12.5% Sn, 12.5% Cd – melts at 65.5 °C

Ru/Pt alloys: dental alloys and jewelry

Ir/Pt alloys: very hard and permanent alloys used for pen tips, surgical tools, elec. equipment

Pd/Pt/Au alloys: dental alloys (orthodontic appliances) jewelry, lab ware

89.9% Pt + 10.1% Ir alloy: The international standard kilogram and standard meter are made of this alloy because of permanence and low coefficient of thermal expansion

magnalium: Al + 1-15% Mg + 0-1.75% Cu – construction (lighter, harder, stronger than Al)

tin plate: iron coated with Sn

chromium plate: iron coated with Cr

cadmium plate: iron coated with Cd (attractive and resists corrosion well)

galvanized iron: iron coated with zinc (resists corrosion well)

magnesium metal: corrosion prevention

titanium metal (and alloys): strong light and resists corrosion (aircraft manufact.)

tungsten metal: m.p. 3370 °C (highest of the metals) – filament in elec. lamps, sparkplug contacts.

copper metal: electrical wiring, pipes

cadmium metal rods: nuclear reactor use – absorbs neutrons and controls chain reaction

mercury metal: liquid used in barometers, vacuum pumps, elec. contacts, lamps

aluminum metal: construction (airplane), elec. wiring, cooking utensils

platinum metal: electrodes, equipment for handling corrosive liquids and gases, electrical contacts, thermocouples, jewelry, dental appliances

F. Metals and Their Compounds as Catalysts

iron – cat. in NH₃ manuf.; Fe (or Pt or Cr) in diamond manufacture

Fe₂O₃ – cat. in water-gas shift reaction

cobalt – finely divided – cat. in hydrogenation of CO & CO₂ with the formation of      hydrocarbons and for oxidation of ammonia

nickel – cat. in steam-hydrocarbon reforming process – (or Pd or Pt or Ag or CoO) – in H₂ + O₂ fuel cell

copper – cat. in Rochow process (mf. of silicones)

Al₂O₃ – cat. in manufacture of graphite

Pt – finely divided forms (Pt black or Pt sponge): cat. in oxidation of SO₂ (contact process); cat. in oxidation of NH₃ to NO

Ru₃(CO)₁₂ – cat. in water-gas shift reaction

RhCl(PPh₃)₃ – cat. in olefin hydrogenation

Co₂(CO)₈ – cat. in hydroformylation reactions (C=C → CH−CHO)

Et₃Al + TiCl₃ – cat. in polymerization of olefins (C=C → C−C−C)

Ni(acac)₂ – cat. in cyclo-oligomerization of acetylene

G. Metal Compounds in Consumer Goods, Industrial Processes, Etc.

metal hydrides (e.g. CaH₂) – chemical dehydrating and reducing agents

intercalation compounds of graphite – new anisotropic conductors

Na₂CO₃ – for CO₂ absorption

CaCO₃ in lime production

silicates: Ca₂Mg₅(Si₄O₁₁)₂(OH)₂ – tremolite (asbestos)

K(Mg,Fe)(OH)₂(AlSi₃O₁₀) – mica

M_x/n[(AlO₂)_x(SiO₂)_y]•2H2O (M=Na⁺, K⁺ or Ca²⁺) – zeolites

Na₂O•xSiO₂ and CaO•xSiO₂ – glass

Na₂SiO₃•xSiO₂ – silicate cement

NaNO₃, KNO₃: fertilizers and used in explosives industry

M(N₃)₂: azides of Pb, Hg and Ba – explode on striking; used in detonation caps

CaH₄(PO₄)₂ and other phosphate fertilizers

NaH₂PO₄ and other orthophosphates and pyrophosphates used in water conditioning, detergents, baking products, etc.

M₅(P₃O₁₀) – tripolyphosphate – control hardness of water

Zn[(RO)₂PS₂]₂: lubricating oil additives

NaOH, CaO, Ca(OH)₂: mortar, plaster, cement; manufacture of soap

Na₂O₂: bleaching agent

NaO₂ – CO₂ removal; O₂ generator

CaS₂, CaS₅ – fungicides

Na₂S_x – polysulfides used in rubber manufacture

NaOH/Na₂S/Na₂CO₃: Kraft pulp

CaHSO₃/MgHSO₃/SO₂: sulfite pulp

Na₂S₂O₄ – dithionates: pulp bleaching

Na₂SO₃, NaHSO₃, CaSO₃, Ca(HSO₃)₂, Ca(OC1)₂, NaOCl, NaClO₃: bleaching

AgBr: photographic film

Some Important applications of alkali metal and their compounds can be found here:

• http://www.scienceclarified.com/everyday/Real-Life-Chemistry-Vol-1/Alkali-Metals-Real-life-applications.html
• https://books.google.ca/books?id=xmQ1AAAAMAAJ&pg=PA13&lpg=PA13&dq=breathing+apparatus+using+potassium+peroxide&source=bl&ots=HsTkndsbaZ&sig=ACfU3U1PJHogFmKcCIpq38vo4aIQXlothA&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiS67nehtXoAhWMpp4KHQL9DOU4ChDoATAEegQIDBAr#v=onepage&q=breathing%20apparatus%20using%20potassium%20peroxide&f=false
• https://strives-uploads-prod.s3.us-gov-west-1.amazonaws.com/19850027310/19850027310.pdf?AWSAccessKeyId=AKIASEVSKC45ZTTM42XZ&Expires=1600747710&Signature=tBrifIs6Dq%2BRj6Eloq7rL7WNFZo%3D
• https://www.thespruce.com/sodium-carbonate-safety-cleaning-1706882
• https://www.lenntech.com/processes/disinfection/chemical/disinfectants-sodium-hypochlorite.htm
• https://www.worldofchemicals.com/406/chemistry-articles/sodium-hydroxide-cleaning-sanitization-agent-in-chromatography-media-and-columns.html
• https://www.thespruce.com/sodium-bisulfate-definition-uses-safety-1707029
• https://www.cleaninginstitute.org/industry-priorities/policy/other-issues/sodium-lauryl-sulfate-sls
• http://www.diatom.com.br/en-US/applications/detergentes

Common Ions – Names and Formulae