Types of metals - Part 1 - Random facts for kids

There are many types of metals found all over the Earth.  Metals like gold, silver, steel and nickel.  These metals have a lot of different uses.

We will learn about another type of metal every day for the next few days, but today we will just look at a few random facts.

Metals are good conductors of heat and electricity - this means that heat and electricity can move through it quickly.  This is why you will find copper wire on the inside of an electrical wire.  Aluminium is used to make cooking pots.

Metals are also shiny when they are clean and can be made into different things like jewelry for instance.  We say the metal is malleable. 

Gold is a good metal to use to make jewelry, because it can be heated and formed in different shape. but it is also strong enough to last long.  It also does not corrode.

The metal that you will find of most if you mine will be aluminium, but on Earth it will be iron, because a huge part of the Earth's crust is made up of iron.

Metals are in solid form, but the only metal that is in liquid form is mercury.

Alkali metals such as sodium, potassium, rubidium, caesium and francium are extremely reactive elements, just putting them in water can result in an explosion! They are carefully stored in oil to prevent this from happening 

Tungsten is an extremely hard metal with a very high melting point.  It is expensive but very durable which means it will last a long time.

Tungsten has the highest melting point of any metal. Tungsten is used in filaments in incandescent light bulbs, it is also used in electric contacts and arc-welding electrodes. Tungsten is used in alloys, such as steel, to which it imparts great strength. 

Metals are strong and they can be use in many ways like building bridges or buildings or making tools.

If different types of metals are 'mixed' together, it is called an alloy.  Steel for instance is an alloy that can be used for different functions.  There are different types of steel like galvanized steel, carbon steel and stainless steel.  These are form depending on which metals are part of the alloy.  Steel can be used to make cars, machines, knifes, tools etc. 

You can learn more about steel here.

Another alloy that people use a lot is bronze and this is made from a combination of copper and tin.  Learn more about the 'bronze age' and how it changed people's lives.