many lovers interesting facts I'm wondering which metal is the hardest? And it won’t be easy to answer this question offhand. Of course, any chemistry teacher will easily say correctly, without even thinking. But among ordinary citizens who last studied chemistry at school, not many will be able to give the answer correctly and quickly. This is due to the fact that since childhood everyone has been accustomed to making various toys from wire and has well remembered that copper and aluminum are soft and bend well, but steel, on the contrary, is not so easy to give the desired shape. A person deals with the three named metals most often, so he doesn’t even consider the other candidates. But steel is certainly not the hardest metal in the world. To be fair, it is worth noting that this is not a metal at all in the chemical sense, but a compound of iron and carbon.
What is titanium?
The hardest metal is titanium. Pure titanium was first obtained in 1925. This discovery created a sensation in scientific circles. On new material Industrialists immediately drew attention and appreciated the benefits of its use. According to the official version, the hardest metal on Earth got its name in honor of the indestructible Titans, who, according to ancient Greek mythology, were the founders of the world.
According to scientists, the total world reserves of titanium today are about 730 million tons. At the current rate of extraction of fossil raw materials, there will be enough for another 150 years. Titanium ranks 10th in natural reserves among all known metals. The world's largest titanium producer is the Russian company VSMPO-Avisma, which satisfies up to 35% of global needs. The company is engaged in the full processing cycle from ore mining to the manufacture of various products. It takes up about 90% Russian market for titanium production. About 70% finished products goes for export.
Titanium is a light, silver-colored metal with a melting point of 1670 degrees Celsius. Shows high chemical activity only when heated, in normal conditions doesn't react with most chemical elements and connections. Not found in nature pure form. Common in the form of rutile (titanium dioxide) and ilmenite (a complex substance consisting of titanium dioxide and ferrous oxide) ores. Pure titanium is isolated by sintering the ore with chlorine and then displacing the more active metal (usually magnesium) from the resulting tetrachloride.
Industrial applications of titanium
The hardest metal has quite wide range applications in many industries. Amorphously arranged atoms provide titanium highest level tensile and torsional strength, good resistance shock impact, high magnetic qualities. The metal is used to make air transport bodies and missiles. It copes well with the enormous loads that cars experience at great heights. Titanium is also used in the production of hulls for submarines, as it can withstand high pressure at great depths.
In the medical industry, metal is used in the manufacture of dentures and dental implants, as well as surgical instruments. The element is added as an alloying additive to some grades of steel, which gives them increased strength and resistance to corrosion. Titanium is well suited for casting as it produces perfectly smooth surfaces. It is also made from Jewelry And decorative items. Titanium compounds are also actively used. Dioxide is used to make paints, whitewash, and is added to paper and plastic.
Organic titanium salts are used as a hardening catalyst in paint and varnish production. Various tools and attachments for processing and drilling other metals are made from titanium carbide. In precision engineering, titanium aluminide is used to produce wear-resistant elements that have a high safety margin.
The hardest metal alloy was obtained by American scientists in 2011. Its composition included palladium, silicon, phosphorus, germanium and silver. The new material was called "metallic glass". It combines the hardness of glass and the plasticity of metal. The latter prevents cracks from spreading, as happens with standard glass. Naturally, the material was not put into widespread production, since its components, especially palladium, are rare metals and are very expensive.
IN this moment Scientists' efforts are aimed at finding alternative components that would preserve the properties obtained, but significantly reduce the cost of production. However, some parts for the aerospace industry are already being produced from the resulting alloy. If alternative elements can be introduced into the structure and the material becomes widespread, then it is quite possible that it will become one of the most popular alloys of the future.
Metals have been used by man since the dawn of civilization. One of the first known was copper, due to its ease of processing and widespread use. Archaeologists have found thousands of copper items during excavations. Progress does not stand still, and soon humanity learned to produce durable alloys to make weapons and agricultural tools. To this day, experiments with metals do not stop, so it has become possible to determine which is the strongest metal in the world.
Iridium
So, the strongest metal is iridium. It is obtained by precipitation from the dissolution of platinum in sulfuric acid. After the reaction, the substance becomes black, and later in the process of various compounds it can change color: hence the name, translated as “rainbow”. Iridium was discovered in the early 19th century, and since then only two ways have been found to dissolve it: molten lye and sodium peroxide.
Iridium is very rare in nature; its amount in the earth does not exceed 1 in 1,000,000,000. As a result, one ounce of the material costs at least $1,000.
Iridium is widely used in different areas human activities, especially in medicine. It is used to produce eye prostheses, hearing aids, brain electrodes, and special capsules, which are implanted into cancerous tumors.
According to scientists, such a small amount of matter indicates that it is of alien origin, namely, brought by some kind of asteroid.
Another of the strongest metals in the world, the name of which comes from the name of our country. It was first discovered in the Urals. Or rather, they found platinum there, in which Russian scientists later identified a new metal. This was 200 years ago.
Due to its beauty, ruthenium is often used in jewelry, but not in its pure form, because it is very rare
Ruthenium is a noble metal. It has not only hardness, but also beauty. In terms of hardness, it is only slightly inferior to quartz. But at the same time, it is very fragile, it can easily be crushed into powder or broken by dropping it from a height. In addition, it is the lightest and strongest metal, its density is barely thirteen grams per centimeter cubed.
Despite its poor impact resistance, ruthenium is excellent at resisting high temperatures. To melt it, it must be heated to more than 2300 degrees. If this is done using an electric arc, the substance can go directly into the gaseous state, bypassing the liquid stage.
As part of alloys, its use is extremely wide, even in space mechanics; for example, alloys of the metals ruthenium and platinum were chosen for the manufacture of fuel elements for artificial Earth satellites.
The first on Earth to discover this metal was the Swedish scientist Ekeberg. But the chemist was never able to isolate it in its pure form; difficulties arose with this, which is why it received the name of the Greek hero of myths, Tantalus. Tantalum began to be actively used only during the Second World War.
Tantalum is a hard, durable, silver-colored metal that exhibits little activity at ordinary temperatures, oxidizes only when heated above 280°C, and melts only at almost 3300 Kelvin.
Despite its strength, tantalum is quite ductile, approximately like gold, and working with it is not difficult
Tantalum can be used as a substitute for stainless steels; the service life may differ by as much as twenty years.
Tantalum is also used:
- in aviation for the manufacture of heat-resistant parts;
- in chemistry as part of anti-corrosion alloys;
- in nuclear energy, since it is extremely resistant to cesium vapor;
- medicine for the manufacture of implants and prostheses;
- in computer technology for the production of superconductors;
- in military affairs for various types of projectiles;
- in jewelry, since during oxidation it can acquire different shades.
This metal is considered biogenic, which means it can have a positive effect on living organisms. For example, the amount of chromium regulates cholesterol levels. If chromium in the body is less than six milligrams, this leads to a sharp increase in cholesterol in the blood. You can get chromium ions, for example, from pearl barley, duck, liver or beets.
Chrome is refractory, does not react to moisture and does not oxidize (only when heated above 600°C).
The metal is actively used to create chrome coatings and dental crowns.
This durable metal was previously called glucinium because people noted its sweet taste. In addition, this substance has many more amazing properties. He is reluctant to join chemical reactions. Extremely durable: it has been experimentally established that beryllium wire a millimeter thick can support the weight of an adult. For comparison, aluminum wire can only withstand twelve kilograms.
Beryllium is very poisonous. When ingested, it can replace magnesium in the bones, a condition called berylliosis. It is accompanied by a dry cough and swelling of the lungs and can lead to death. Toxicity is perhaps the only significant drawback of beryllium for humans. Otherwise, it has a lot of advantages and a lot of uses: heavy industry, nuclear fuel, aviation and astronautics, metallurgy, medicine.
Beryllium is very light compared to some alkali metals
This durable metal is even more expensive than iridium (and is second only to California). However, it is used in areas where the result is more important than the cost of it: for production medical equipment to the world's best clinics. In addition, it can be used to make electrical contacts, parts of measuring equipment and expensive watches like Rolex, electron microscopes, and military warheads. Thanks to osmium, they become stronger and withstand longer high temperatures, even to the extreme.
Osmium does not occur in nature on its own, only in combination with rhodium, so after extraction the task is to separate their atoms. Less common is osmium in a “set” with platinum, copper and some other ores.
Only a few tens of kilograms of the substance are produced per year on the planet.
This metal has a very strong structure. It itself is whitish in color, and when crushed into powder it turns black. The metal is very rare and is mined in combination with other ores and minerals. The concentration of rhenium in nature is negligible.
Due to the incredible high cost, the substance is used only in cases of extreme necessity. Previously, its alloys, due to their heat resistance, were used in aviation and rocketry, including for equipping supersonic fighters. It was this area that was the main point of world consumption of rhenium, making it a material of military-strategic use.
Rhenium is used to make filaments and springs for measuring instruments, self-cleaning contacts and special catalysts necessary for the production of gasoline. This is exactly what last years increased the demand for rhenium significantly. The world market is literally ready to fight for this rare metal.
In the whole world there is only one full-fledged deposit of it, and it is located in Russia, the second, much smaller one, is in Finland
Scientists have invented a new substance, which in its properties can become stronger than known metals. It was called "Liquid Metal". Experiments with it began quite recently, but it has already proven itself. It is quite possible that Liquid Metal will soon supplant the metals that are so well known to us.
The hardest metal is chrome, titanium.
Chromium- an element of the secondary subgroup of the sixth group of the fourth period of the periodic system of chemical elements of Mendeleev D.I., with atomic number 24. Denoted by the symbol Cr (Latin Chromium). The simple substance chromium (CAS number: 7440-47-3) is a hard metal of a bluish-white color.
Chromium occurs in nature mainly in the form of chromium iron ore Fe(CrO2)2 (iron chromite). Ferrochrome is obtained from it by reduction in electric furnaces with coke (carbon):
FeO Cr2O3 + 4C → Fe + 2Cr + 4CO
Chromium is a fairly common element; its content is earth's crust is approximately 0.02% (22nd place).
Ferrochrome is used for the production of alloy steels.
To obtain pure chromium, the reaction is carried out as follows:
1) melt iron chromite with sodium carbonate (soda ash) in air:
4Fe(CrO2)2 + 8Na2CO3 + 7O2 → 8Na2CrO4 + 2Fe2O3 + 8CO2
2) dissolve sodium chromate and separate it from iron oxide;
3) convert the chromate to dichromate, acidifying the solution and crystallizing the dichromate;
4) pure chromium oxide is obtained by reducing dichromate with coal:
Na2Cr2O7 + 2C → Cr2O3 + Na2CO3 + CO
5) metallic chromium is obtained using aluminothermy:
Cr2O3+ 2Al → Al2O3 + 2Cr + 130 kcal
6) using electrolysis, electrolytic chromium is obtained from a solution of chromic anhydride in water containing the addition of sulfuric acid. In this case, mainly 3 processes take place at the cathodes:
reduction of hexavalent chromium to trivalent chromium with its transition into solution;
discharge of hydrogen ions with the release of hydrogen gas;
discharge of ions containing hexavalent chromium with precipitation of metallic chromium;
Cr2O72− + 14Н+ + 12е− = 2Cr + 7H2O
Receiptchromium
The raw material for the industrial production of chromium is chromium iron ore. Its chemical processing leads to Cr2O3. Reduction of Cr2O3 with aluminum or silicon produces chromium metal of low purity:
Cr2O3+Al=Al2O3+2Cr
2Cr2O3+3Si=3SiO2+4Cr
A purer metal is obtained by electrolysis of concentrated solutions of chromium compounds.
Titanium - (Latin Titanium; denoted by the symbol Ti) is an element of the secondary subgroup of the fourth group, the fourth period of the periodic table of chemical elements of D.I. Mendeleev, with atomic number 22. The simple substance titanium (CAS number: 7440-32-6) - light metal silver-white color. Exists in two crystal modifications: α-Ti with a hexagonal close-packed lattice, β-Ti with cubic body-centered packing, α↔β transition temperature 883 °C
The softest metals are potassium, rubidium, cesium.
Potassium- an element of the main subgroup of the first group, the fourth period of the periodic system of chemical elements of Mendeleev D.I., with atomic number 19. Denoted by the symbol K (Latin Kalium). The simple substance potassium (CAS number: 7440-09-7) is a soft alkali metal with a silvery-white color.
In nature, potassium is found only in compounds with other elements, for example, in sea water, as well as in many minerals. It oxidizes very quickly in air and very easily enters into chemical reactions, especially with water, forming an alkali. IN many respects Chemical properties potassium is very close to sodium, but in terms of biological function and how they are used by the cells of living organisms, they still differ.
Rubidium- an element of the main subgroup of the first group, the fifth period of the periodic system of chemical elements of D.I. Mendeleev, with atomic number 37. Denoted by the symbol Rb (lat. Rubidium). The simple substance rubidium (CAS number: 7440-17-7) is a soft alkali metal with a silvery-white color.
Cesium- an element of the main subgroup of the first group of the sixth period of the periodic system of chemical elements of D.I. Mendeleev, atomic number 55. Denoted by the symbol Cs (lat. Caesium). The simple substance cesium (CAS number: 7440-46-2) is a soft alkali metal of a silvery-yellow color. Cesium received its name for the presence of two bright blue lines in the emission spectrum (from the Latin caesius - sky blue).
- First of all, tell me, Panama, which ones do you know? metals?
- Iron.
- And what else?
- More? No, I don't know anymore.
- You know, you know. Think carefully, remember. Okay, I'll give you a hint. So tell me, what is the fishing rod sinker made of?
- Made of lead.
- What is mom’s ring made of?
- Made of gold.
- Right. But both lead and gold are metals. The pan is aluminum, which means metal, the mortar and pestle are brass, the metal wires, if you scrape off the plastic “clothing” from them, are copper, metal. There are many more different metals in the world! And many of them amazing properties. Which? But answer my questions: is it necessary? metals drown in water?
- Necessarily. Even the needle sinks. I have seen.
- So, Panama, there are such light metals that float in water like a cork. One of them is called lithium. It is lighter than water... I don’t remember how much. Bumka probably knows.
- HELLO, TURNING ON.
LITHIUM IS TWICE LIGHTER THAN WATER AND 15 TIMES LIGHTER THAN IRON. LITHIUM IS A COMPONENT OF MORE THAN 150 MINERALS IT IS IN ALMOST EVERY STONE AND THEREFORE IT GOT THIS NAME: THE GREEK WORD “LITHOS” MEANS “STONE”. THIS SILVER-WHITE METAL IS IN HOT
IN FURNACES THEY ARE MELT AND MIXED WITH OTHER METALS. ALLOYS ARE OBTAINED. ALUMINUM IS NOT VERY STRONG, BUT IF YOU ALLOY IT WITH LITHIUM, THE RESULTS ARE A MUCH STRONGER METAL.
- Thank you, Bumka. I ask a new question: do metals get sick?
- Are they sick?! That's funny!
So, a water tap can cause a runny nose, and a penknife can cause whooping cough?
Hilarious!
- Metals still hurt.
Isn't the rust we talked about recently a disease of metals? They even “die” from it and are destroyed. There was steel, but it lay in the water for a long time - it collapsed and became covered with red rust. Tron will crumble into powder. No wonder people say: rust (that is, rust) eats iron. So I ate it. Now answer - is metal liquid? Not when it is melted in a hot oven, but always liquid?
- Liquid metal, grandfather Do you know? Yes, it’s like “hot ice”!
“So you’re saying it doesn’t happen?” Have you forgotten about mercury, which shows the temperature in a thermometer? This is a real liquid metal! If you accidentally drop or break the thermometer, the mercury will spread across the floor in small balls. If you collect them, they will instantly merge into one. This liquid metal hardens only in very severe frost.
By the way, mercury is needed not only for thermometers. It is also necessary for tube lamps that provide bright daylight. Mercury is part of the paints that cover the bottoms of ships. After this, ships do not rust as much even in salty sea water and their bottoms are less overgrown with shells and algae.
Well, in the end, let's answer the question: which metal is the strongest, which is the softest?
First, about the most durable. It is silvery-white in color and is called titanium. Titanium is 12 times harder than aluminum, 4 times harder than iron and copper. If you heat other metals, they will immediately lose their strength. But titanium... the temperature is 500 degrees, and it is still as durable as it was. It’s not for nothing that many parts of jet aircraft are made of titanium. This metal is so strong that it can only be crushed by the most powerful hammer machines.
But sodium (also silvery-white), even though it is metal, doesn’t cost anything to flatten with your fingers. And magnesium is famous for its good combustion. Yes, yes - metal, but it burns! He brought a lit match to the thin shavings of magnesium and it flared up.
Here's the answer to your question: Which metal is the hardest and which is the softest?
If strength is usually understood as the ability solids resist destruction and maintain the shape of the product, then the following metals can be classified as super-strong and durable metals.
Name titanium was appropriated by Martin Klaproth, a German researcher who discovered a new metal not for its chemical qualities, but in honor of the mythological heroes of the children of the earth - the titans.
The occurrence of titanium in nature is in 10th place; it is most concentrated in minerals. Without this metal it would be impossible newest discoveries in the field of rocket, ship and aircraft construction. Titanium is used in all areas of industry, in the manufacture of medical implants and body armor with Food Industry and agriculture.
2nd place 
Light gray tungsten , literally translated as wolf's cream, is the most refractory metal, so it is indispensable in the manufacture of heat-resistant surfaces and products. The filament in a regular light bulb is made of tungsten filament.
That metal is used in ballistic missiles, in the manufacture of shells and bullets, and in gyroscopic high-speed rotors.
3rd place 
Tantalum It is almost impossible to modify, because it begins to melt at a temperature of 3015 degrees Celsius, and boils at a boiling point of 5300 degrees. To an ordinary person It’s impossible to even imagine such heat. The bluish-gray metal is the most irreplaceable in modern medicine, wire and sheets are made from it to cover damaged bones.
Opened in 1817 molybdenum, steel-gray metal is practically never found in its pure form. The refractoriness of this metal is amazing, the melting point of which exceeds 2620 degrees. Molybdenum has found its greatest use in the military industry, where gun and armor steels are made.
5th place 
Aviation and mechanical engineering, nuclear energy and astronautics use niobium, a metal very similar in its properties to tantalum. Niobium is practically unaffected by any substances, neither salts nor acids, it is difficult to melt and difficult to oxidize, which is what makes the unique metal so in demand.
6th place 
The heaviest metal on earth iridium It has the most durable anti-corrosion properties; even aqua regia cannot melt it. Adding iridium to other alloys increases their ability to resist corrosion.
7th place 
Beryllium is one of the rare metals that are mined in the earth. Its unique qualities, such as high thermal conductivity and fire resistance, made this metal indispensable in the manufacture nuclear reactors. Beryllium alloys rightfully occupy a leading place in the aerospace and aviation industries.
8th place 
Light blue chrome , which is also one of the strongest metals due to its unique properties when added to steel alloys, it makes them harder and more corrosion-resistant. The chrome parts have a beautiful appearance, which does not change over time.
9th place 
The Saxons treat their legends with care; the name of the hero of one of them, Kobold, was immortalized in the name of the metal - cobalt . Very often, when mining ore, seekers mistook the gray-pink metal for silver.
Refractory metal, as an additive, increases the heat resistance, hardness and wear resistance of steel. Thanks to its unique qualities, cobalt is indispensable in metal-cutting machines.
Hafnium – a light gray metal with unique qualities is mined from zirconium ore. Solid, refractory hafnium has a unique feature; the fact is that its temperature-capacity dependence is anomalous and does not fall under any laws of physics.
Hafnium is used in nuclear energy and optics, for strengthening various alloys and making glass for X-rays; it is difficult to imagine military production without it.
Today we will look at the strongest metals in the world and discuss their properties. And titanium opens the “strength rating”.
Not the most durable?
The name of the metal presumably comes from the name of the ancient Greek hero Titan. Therefore, we associate this metal with indestructibility. Many consider titanium to be the strongest metal in the world. However, in reality this is far from the case.
Pure titanium was first obtained in 1925. The new material immediately attracted attention due to a number of properties. Titanium has begun to be very actively used in the industrial sector.
Today, titanium is in 10th place among natural metals in terms of prevalence. The earth's crust contains about 700 million tons. That is, the current raw materials will last for another 150 years.
Titanium has excellent properties. It is a lightweight and durable metal that is resistant to corrosion. It can be easily heat treated and has a wide range of applications. It interacts with other elements of the periodic table only when heated. Found naturally in rutile and ilmenite ores. Pure titanium is obtained by sintering ore with chlorine.
It is able to withstand enormous loads. The metal is distinguished by its high strength and resistance shock action. It is used in the manufacture Vehicle, missiles and even submarines. Titanium can withstand pressure even at great depths.
It is also popular in the medical industry. Prostheses based on it do not interact with body tissues and are not subject to corrosion. But over the years it begins to wear out, which forces you to replace the prosthesis with a new one.
New developments
In 2016, scientists found a way to improve the properties of titanium and make it even more durable. The main goal of the research is to find a more durable material that is compatible with body tissues. And then they remembered the gold that long years used in prosthetics.
The alloy of titanium and gold, after several attempts to find the ideal ratio of components, turned out to be incredibly durable. 4 times stronger than other metals used today for prosthetics.
Tantalum
One of the strongest metals. Named after ancient Greek god Tantalus, who angered Zeus and was cast into hell. It has a silvery-white color with a bluish tint. It is a characteristic element of granitic and alkaline magma. It is extracted from the mineral coltan, the largest deposits of which are located in Brazil and Africa.
It was opened back in 1802. Then it was considered a variety of columbium, but later it was established that these are two different metals with similar properties. Only 100 years later it was possible to obtain pure tantalum. Its cost today is quite high - $150 per 1 kg of metal.
Tantalum is a refractory metal with quite high density. From a chemical point of view, it is stable because it does not dissolve in dilute acids. In powder form, tantalum burns well in air. Used for the manufacture of electrolytic capacitors, heaters in vacuum furnaces. Tantalum capacitors increase service life electronic systems up to 10-12 years. It is noteworthy that even jewelers have found use for it - they replace platinum.
Strength testing of metals showed that the alloy of tantalum and tungsten has almost one hundred percent strength.
Osmium is the very...
Osmium is another incredibly strong metal. It is also included in the list of the rarest and most expensive. It is present in the earth's crust in minute quantities. It is classified as dispersed, that is, it does not have its own deposits. Therefore, its extraction is accompanied by enormous difficulties.
Osmium belongs to the group of platinum metals. Its cost is about $10,000 per gram. In price it is second only to artificial Californian. It consists of several isotopes that are incredibly difficult to separate. The most popular isotope is osmium-187. Its price per gram reaches up to $200,000!
Osmium is the record holder for density among metals. In addition, it is a high-strength metal. Alloys containing osmium become resistant to corrosion and become stronger and more durable. Metal is also used in its pure form, for example, to make expensive fountain pens, which practically do not wear out and write for years.
Chromium
Chromium, cobalt and tungsten have been known to science since 1913 and are united under common name- stellites. They remain hard even at temperatures of 600 degrees Celsius.
This metal is mainly found in deep layers Earth. It is also found in stony meteorites, which are considered analogues of our mantle. Only chrome spinels are of industrial value. Many minerals that contain chromium are completely useless. The purest chromium is obtained by electrolysis of concentrated aqueous solutions or electrolysis of chromium sulfate.
Metal in combination with steel significantly enhances its strength and also adds resistance to oxidation. It improves the characteristics of steel without reducing its ductility.
Ruthenium
It belongs to the platinum group and is classified as a noble metal. However, from their list, ruthenium is considered the least noble... It was discovered by the scientist Karl-Ernst Klaus in 1844. It is noteworthy that the professor constantly smelled and tasted the results of his research. Once he even got burned oral cavity, when he tasted one of the ruthenium compounds he discovered.
Its world reserves today are about 5,000 tons. Ruthenium for a long time is being researched, but many of its properties are still unknown. The problem is that no way has yet been found to completely purify ruthenium. The contamination of raw materials prevents the study of its properties. However, doctors are confident that the use of metal in everyday life can increase the incidence of illness among the population. That is why the release of the ruthenium-106 isotope in the Urals caused such a resonance in the press. After all, ruthenium-106 has radioactive properties.
At the same time, its value in 2017 unexpectedly surpassed all platinum metals.
Iridium is the strongest metal
It is iridium that has the highest strength. Yes, it is inferior to osmium in density, but has the highest strength coefficient. It is also called the rarest of metals, but in fact the content of astatine in the earth's crust is even lower.
Iridium was studied very carefully. 70 years later, its main properties - incredible strength and corrosion resistance - have become known throughout the world. Today it is used in many industries. The lion's share of the metal is exploited chemical industry. The remainder is distributed among many other areas, including medicine and jewelry. Iridium combined with platinum creates high-quality and very durable jewelry.
