Aluminium, Copper, Zinc and Iron Uses: Did you know that historical periods are closely linked to the metals discovered during that time? The metal found and used during each period of history is used to classify the different periods of history. The Bronze Age and the Iron Age succeeded the Stone Age. All of today’s advancements may be traced back to the discovery and effective application of metals. Let’s take a look at how essential metals like Aluminium, Copper, Zinc, and Iron are used.

Uses of Aluminium

The various uses of Aluminium are discussed below:

• 1. Aluminium is a soft, second most malleable and the sixth most ductile metal. It is non-toxic, has a low density and high thermal conductivity. It is a non-corrosive,  non-magnetic and non-sparking metal. It is lightweight and a good conductor of heat and electricity. It can be easily cast, machined and formed.
• 2. Being a lightweight metal, Aluminium is often used as an alloy.
• 3. Aluminium forms lightweight alloys with Copper, manganese, magnesium and silicon. These alloys are strong and used to make aeroplane bodies and other forms of transport. Some of the alloys are Duralium \({\rm{(Al, Cu, Mg, Ni)}}\), Magnalium \(({\rm{Al}},{\rm{Mg}})\), Alnico \({\rm{(Al, Fe, Ni, Co)}}\).
• 4. As Aluminium is much cheaper and lightweight than its copper counterpart, it is widely used in electrical transmission lines.
• 5. Aluminium is a common household element found in various products, such as kitchen cutlery, beer kegs, wrapping foils etc.
• 6. Aluminium can be \({\rm{100}}\% \) recycled without losing its natural properties.
• 7. Aluminium powder is used as a reducing agent in thermite welding. It is also used in anti-rust paints and lacquers.
• 8. From laptops, tablets, flat-screen TVs, smartphones, and even some household items, Aluminium makes all these items look modern yet sophisticated with its finish.
• 9. The metal has excellent heat conductivity, hence is widely used as a heat sink in electrical appliances.

Uses of Zinc

The various uses and applications of Zinc are discussed below:

• 1. Zinc is a hard and brittle bluish metal. It’s malleable between \({100^ \circ }\) to \(150\,^\circ {\rm{C}}\). It is a non-corrosive metal with a relatively low melting as well as boiling point.
• 2. Zinc is the most commonly used anti-rusting element. It is widely used in Galvanisation which involves the coating of iron surfaces with Zinc to prevent corrosion by rusting.
• 3. Zinc is more reactive than Iron, hence acts as a sacrificial metal. The oxygen in the air reacts with Zinc to form Zinc Oxide, thereby protecting the Iron.
• 4. Zinc is extensively used as an alloy, such as Brass \(\left( {{\rm{Cu}} – 60\% ,\,{\rm{Zn}} – 40\% } \right)\), German silver \(\left( {{\rm{Cu}}25 – 30\% ,\,{\rm{Zn}}25 – 30\% ,\,{\rm{Ni}}40 – 50\% } \right)\)
• 5. It’s commonly utilised in the dyeing business, as well as in domestic appliances.
• 6. Zinc is used to make zinc oxide, which is an important component in anti-rash cream.
• 7. Zinc oxide is a safer alternative to lead oxide and is commonly used in white paint.
• 8. It is used as negative plates in some electric batteries and in the extraction of gold and silver through the cyanide process.
• 9. Zinc powder is used as a reducing agent in the laboratory and in manufacturing drugs, dyes, paints and other chemicals.
• 10. Zinc is a vital trace element for human health. When people get too little Zinc, they can lose their appetite, lose their sense of taste and smell, have sluggish wound healing, and develop skin ulcers. An adult human body needs \(2-3\) grams of Zinc for the enzyme’s to function properly.

Study Aluminium Formula Here

Uses of Copper

The various uses and applications of Copper are discussed below:

• 1. Copper is a red-hued, non-corrosive metal with atomic number \(29\). It has excellent heat and electrical conductivity and is also malleable and ductile.
• 2. It is a member of a family of metals known as the “coinage metals”.
• 3. Due to its softness, Copper can be easily fashioned into coins.
• 4. Pure Copper is too soft to have structural value; hence it is mixed with Zinc and tin to form alloys of Brass \(\left( {{\rm{Cu}} – 60\% ,\,{\rm{Zn}} – 40\% } \right)\) and bronze \(({\rm{Cu}},{\rm{Sn}})\). Brass and bronze are known from ancient days and hold great historical importance.
• 5. Due to the high electrical conductivity, Copper is used for electric wires, water and steam pipes.
• 6. Its rust-resistant ability enables it to be used as utensils, kettles, pans, etc.
• 7. Copper is an essential component in the electroplating and electrolytic refining of metals.
• 8. Gold and silver are alloyed with Copper to make them hard to make ornaments and coins.
• 9. Copper is found in the radiators, oil coolers and even in the braking system of cars.

Uses of Iron

The various uses and applications of Irons are discussed below:

• 1. The single most important metal with the highest corroding properties is Iron.
• 2. In its pure form, Iron is soft and is malleable and ductile in nature.
• 3. It has excellent thermal and electrical conductivity.  
• 4. Cast iron is the most important form of Iron and is used widely for casting stoves, railway sleepers, etc.
• 5. It is utilised in the production of wrought iron and steel.
• 6. Wires, shackles, and agricultural implements are all made of wrought iron.
• 7. Steel is a carbon and iron alloy. Different varieties of steel are created by combining various elements.
• 8. Carbon Steel: Carbon content ranges from \(0.1\) percent to \(2.5\) percent. Fences, barbed wire, bridges, and buildings are all made of mild carbon steel. Although high carbon steel is fragile, it can still be used to manufacture wires.
• 9. Stainless Steel: Along with Iron, stainless steel has at least \({\rm{10}}{\rm{.5 \% }}\) of chromium \(\left( {{\rm{Fe – 73}},{\mkern 1mu} \,{\rm{Cr – 18}},\,{\rm{Ni – 8}}} \right)\). This chromium prevents rusting by forming a thin layer on the steel. It also consists of small amounts of carbon, silicon, and manganese. Stainless Steel is used for everything from power generation to making utensils. It is an important part of the food storage industry. And lastly, it is even used in construction as a part of roofing, windows, and facades.
• 10. Invar \(({\rm{Fe}} – 64,{\rm{Ni}} – 36)\) is used to make measuring instruments and clock pendulums.

Summary

Aluminium, Copper, Zinc and Iron are some of the most important metals since the evolution of human beings. Alloys of Copper such as Brass and bronze are known to be used since \(4500\) years ago. After the bronze age, Iron remained the primary metal of industry for more than two thousand years – until the discovery of steel. Iron began to overtake bronze in weaponry and tools after proving to be tougher and stronger than bronze, which had previously been the most extensively used metal. In this article, we learnt the various properties and uses of Aluminium, Copper, Zinc and Iron.

FAQs on Uses of Aluminium, Copper, Zinc and Iron

Q.1. What are the Uses of Aluminium, Copper, Zinc and Iron?
Ans: Aluminium uses: Food wrappers, kitchen cutlery, power transmission cables, thermite welding, heat sinks.
Copper uses: Coins, Electrical wires, utensils, radiators, electroplating and electrolytic refining of metals.
Zinc uses: Galvanisation, Dye casting, white paint, batteries, extraction of gold and silver.
Iron uses: Wires, chains, agricultural equipment, bridges and buildings

Q.2. What is the Application of Aluminium?
Ans: Application of Aluminium: Kitchen cutlery, food wrapping foil, Power lines, High-rise buildings, Window frames, Consumer electronics, Household and industrial appliances, Aircraft components, Spacecraft components, Ships, Trains, Personal vehicles.

Q.3. What are the uses of Iron and Copper?
Ans:
Iron uses: Wires, chains, agricultural equipment, bridges and buildings.
Copper uses: Coins, Electrical wires, utensils, radiators, electroplating and electrolytic refining of metals.

Q.4. What are the similarities between Iron, Copper and Aluminium?
Ans: Iron, Copper and Aluminium are metals but have different molecular mass and atomic weights along with an atomic number. All three of them have the lustre and are good conductors of electricity. All three of them are malleable, ductile and corrode on exposure to air. As a result, all three of them need to have a coating layer to protect them from getting rusted.

Q.5. What are the similarities between Iron, Copper and Aluminium?
Ans: The similarities between Iron, Copper and Aluminium are discussed below:
Aluminium is the most abundant metal available on the earth.
Iron is magnetic, whereas Aluminium is non-magnetic.
Aluminium has an atomic number of \(13\) and molar mass of \(26.98\;{\rm{g}}/{\rm{mol}}\), whereas Iron has an atomic number of \(26\) and an molar mass of \(55.845\;{\rm{g}}/{\rm{mol}}\).
Iron has a higher boiling and melting point than Aluminium.
Aluminium is costlier than Iron.
Aluminium is a better conductor of electricity and more ductile than Iron.

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