1/29/2024
Common Materials Link <---
Most Common Materials & Uses
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1. Water is a molecule composed of two hydrogen atoms bonded to one oxygen atom, often represented as H2O. This bonding happens when the orbits of the hydrogen and oxygen atoms' electrons become linked, which requires a sudden burst of energy.
As for the uses of water, it is incredibly versatile and essential for life and many processes:
1. Drinking and Household Needs: Water is used for drinking, cooking, bathing, and other household chores.
2. Agriculture: Water is crucial for irrigation in farming and animal feeding operations.
3. Industry and Commerce: Water is used in various industries for manufacturing goods, cooling machinery, and other processes.
4. Recreation: Water bodies like lakes, rivers, and oceans are used for recreational activities like swimming, boating, and fishing.
5. Thermoelectricity/Energy: Water plays a significant role in energy production, including hydroelectric power and cooling in thermal power plants.
6. Environment: Some water must remain in the environment to support ecosystems.
Remember, while water is abundant, less than 1 percent is available for these uses, as the rest is either salt water found in oceans, fresh water frozen in the polar ice caps, or too inaccessible for practical usage.
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2. Air is a mixture of several gases, each present in the form of separate, tiny units called molecules. The primary components of air are nitrogen and oxygen, which make up about 99% of the air. The rest includes small amounts of argon, carbon dioxide, neon, methane, helium, krypton, hydrogen, xenon, and ozone. The composition of air varies from one place to the next and even varies depending on whether it is day or night.
As for the uses of air, it is incredibly versatile and essential for life and many processes:
1. Respiration: Air provides oxygen, which is essential for the respiration of humans and animals.
2. Photosynthesis: Plants use the carbon dioxide in air for photosynthesis.
3. Combustion: Oxygen in the air supports the burning of fuels for activities like cooking, running industries and vehicles, and generating heat and electricity.
4. Temperature Control: Air helps in maintaining the temperature on the earth's surface by circulating hot and cold air.
5. Sound and Image Transmission: Air is used as a medium for conveying sound, as in a public address system or a telephone. It is also used as a medium for conveying images, as in television and motion pictures.
6. Inflation: Compressed air is used to fill tyres of vehicles like bicycles, scooters, cars, trucks, and aeroplanes. It is also used for inflating balloons and footballs.
7. Cleaning and Drying: Air is used to clean and dry products.
8. Energy Supply: Air, which consists of energy, is one of the main suppliers of energy. Living things are made up of cells and these cells extract oxygen within the blood to produce energy.
These are just some of the uses of air, but there are many more in various fields of life and industry.
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3. Ice is formed when water is cooled to or below 0oC (32oF) under standard atmospheric pressure. This process can occur naturally, as seen in the formation of frost, or it can be artificially induced in freezers or ice-making machines. The process of forming ice involves the slowing down of water molecules as the temperature drops, causing them to arrange into a regular crystalline structure.
As for the uses of ice, they are numerous and varied:
1. Cooling: Ice is commonly used to cool drinks and to preserve food and other perishable items.
2. Medical Applications: Ice packs are often used to reduce swelling and numb pain in injuries.
4. Sports and Recreation: Ice is used in various sports and recreational activities, such as ice skating and ice fishing.
4. Food Preparation: Ice is used in the preparation of certain foods and drinks, such as smoothies, cocktails, and ice cream.
5. Industrial Uses: Ice is used in various industries, including the healthcare and hospitality industries, to keep medical equipment safe and drinks cool.
6. Scientific Research: Ice cores, or samples of ice from glaciers, are used in scientific research to study past climates.
7. Construction: In some cases, ice is used in construction, such as in the creation of ice hotels.
8. Art: Ice is used in ice sculpting and in the creation of ice installations.
These are just a few examples of how ice is used. Its applications are diverse and span many different fields and industries.
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4. Glass is made by heating a mixture of silica (or silicon dioxide), soda ash, and lime to a high temperature until it melts and then allowing it to cool and solidify. More specifically, the process involves heating ordinary sand (mostly composed of silicon dioxide SiO2) until it melts and turns into a liquid. The molten sand is allowed to cool, and it turns into a frozen liquid or an amorphous solid. This transformation is achieved by cooling the molten ingredients fast enough to prevent the formation of visible crystals.
As for the uses of glass, they are numerous and varied:
1. Window Panes: Glass is commonly used in windows due to its transparency.
2. Tableware: Items such as drinking glasses, bowls, and plates are often made of glass.
3. Optics: The refractive, reflective, and transmission properties of glass make it suitable for manufacturing optical lenses, prisms, and optoelectronics materials.
4. Decorative Objects: Glass is used to make decorative items, such as vases, ornaments, and stained glass windows.
5. Construction: Glass is used in building construction, particularly in windows and facades.
6. Electronics: Glass is used in various electronic devices, including computer screens and televisions.
7. Scientific Equipment: Glass is used to make a variety of scientific equipment, such as test tubes, beakers, and microscope slides.
8. Fiberglass: Extruded glass fibers are used in communications networks as optical fibers, and in thermal insulation when matted as glass wool.
9. Kitchenware: Glass is used in various kitchen utensils.
10. Eyeglasses and Lenses: Glass is used to make eyeglasses and various types of lenses.
These are just a few examples of how glass is used. Its applications are diverse and span many different fields and industries.
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5. Boron Carbide (B4C) is synthesized industrially by the carbothermal reduction of boron oxide (B2O3) in the presence of carbon at temperatures exceeding 2000oC. This high-temperature process leads to a material that is largely crystalline in nature, contributing to its hardness.
As for the uses of Boron Carbide, they are numerous and varied:
1. Abrasive and Wear-Resistant Products: Due to its extreme hardness, it is used in abrasive and wear-resistant products.
2. Lightweight Composite Materials: It is used in lightweight composite materials due to its hardness and low density.
3. Nuclear Power Generation: Boron Carbide is used in control rods for nuclear power generation as it can absorb neutrons without forming long-lived radionuclide.
4. Armor: It is used in tank armor and bulletproof vests.
5. Engine Sabotage Powders: It is used in engine sabotage powders.
6. Industrial Applications: It has numerous industrial applications.
7. Cut-Resistant Shackle in Padlocks: It is used as an additive in the cut-resistant shackle in some padlocks.
8. Sandblasting Nozzles and Pump Seals: Its wear resistance has caused it to be employed in sandblasting nozzles and pump seals.
9. Military Armour and High-Performance Bicycles: It is used as a reinforcing agent for aluminum in military armour and high-performance bicycles.
These are just a few examples of how Boron Carbide is used. Its applications are diverse and span many different fields and industries.
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6. Graphite is a crystalline form of the element carbon. It consists of stacked layers of graphene. Graphite is formed by the metamorphosis of sediments containing carbonaceous material, by the reaction of carbon compounds with hydrothermal solutions or magmatic fluids, or possibly by the crystallization of magmatic carbon.
In terms of synthetic graphite, it is a material consisting of graphitic carbon which has been obtained by graphitizing non-graphitic carbon, by chemical vapor deposition from hydrocarbons at temperatures above 2,500 K (2,230 oC), by decomposition of thermally unstable carbides or by crystallizing from metal melts supersaturated with carbon.
Uses of Graphite
1. Writing Materials: The most common use of graphite is in making the lead in pencils.
2. Lubricants / Repellents: Graphite is one of the main ingredients in lubricants like grease, etc. It is also used in car brakes and clutches.
3. Refractories: Due to its high tolerance to heat and unchangeability, Graphite is a widely used refractory material.
4. Nuclear Reactors: Graphite can absorb fast-moving neutrons. As a result, it is used in reactors to stabilize nuclear reactions.
5. Batteries: Crystalline flake graphite is used in the manufacturing of carbon electrodes, brushes, and plates needed in dry cell batteries and the electrical industry.
6. Graphene Sheets: Graphite can be used to make graphene sheets.
7. Steel Making: Graphite is used in high-temperature lubricants, brushes for electrical motors, friction materials, and battery and fuel cells.
8. Electrodes: Synthetic and natural graphite are consumed on a large scale for uses in electrodes.
9. Fuel Cells, Semiconductors, LEDs, and Nuclear Reactors: High-grade graphite is also used in these applications.
These are just a few examples of how Graphite is used. Its applications are diverse and span many different fields and industries.
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7. Carbon fiber is a graphite fiber that is extremely lightweight and strong. It is made by drawing the fiber into long strands, heating to a high temperature, and carbonizing to expel the non-carbon atoms. The surface is then treated and the fiber is ready to be used in various products.
The process of creating carbon fiber today still involves the blend of pressure and heat. The precious fibers are carefully heated and carbonized into strong, thin strands that have astonishing tensile strength when woven together. Deprived of air, they don't simply burn to nothing as they would otherwise have done.
Uses of Carbon Fiber
1. Aerospace: Carbon fiber is used in the production of aircraft and spacecraft parts due to its high strength and low weight.
2. High-Performance Vehicles: Carbon fiber is used in the production of racing car bodies.
3. Sporting Equipment: Many sporting goods, like bikes, are made of carbon fiber.
4. Musical Instruments: Carbon fiber is used in the production of musical instruments.
5. Energy: In the field of energy, carbon fiber is used in the production of windmill blades, natural gas storage, and fuel cells for transportation.
6. Construction: Carbon fiber is used in the construction industry due to its strength and lightweight.
7. Marine: Carbon fiber is used in the marine industry for the production of sailboat masts.
8. Military: Carbon fiber is used in the production of ballistic armor.
9. Automotive: Carbon fiber is used in the production of car accessories.
10. Wind Turbines: Carbon fiber is used in the production of wind turbine blades.
These are just a few examples of how Carbon fiber is used. Its applications are diverse and span many different fields and industries.
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8. Polyethylene is produced through the polymerization of ethylene. Ethylene, a gaseous hydrocarbon, is commonly produced by the cracking of ethane, which is a major constituent of natural gas or can be distilled from petroleum. The ethylene molecules are essentially composed of two methylene units (CH2) linked together by a double bond between the carbon atoms. Under the influence of polymerization catalysts, the double bond can be broken and the resultant extra single bond used to link to a carbon atom in another ethylene molecule. This process is known as addition or radical polymerization. The entire process, from the beginning of filtration to blending catalysts, is called polymerization.
Uses of Polyethylene
Polyethylene is the most widely used plastic in the world. It is used in a variety of applications, including:
1. Packaging film: Polyethylene is used to make clear food wrap and shopping bags.
2. Containers: It is used to make detergent bottles, milk containers, and other types of bottles.
3. Insulation: Polyethylene is used for insulation in wires and cables.
4. Agricultural mulch: It is used in agricultural settings as mulch.
5. Toys and housewares: Polyethylene is used to make toys and various housewares.
6. Pipes and pipe fittings: It is used in the production of pipes and pipe fittings.
It's worth noting that polyethylene can also be slit or spun into synthetic fibers or modified to take on the elastic properties of a rubber.
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9. Polypropylene is produced through a process known as polymerization of propylene1. Propylene, a gaseous hydrocarbon, is polymerized using a catalyst system, commonly a Ziegler-Natta or metallocene catalyst. The polymerization parameters, including temperature, pressure, and reactant concentrations, are determined according to the desired polymer grade. This process is known as chain-growth polymerization.
Uses of Polypropylene
Polypropylene is a versatile thermoplastic polymer and is used in a variety of applications, including:
1. Plastic Parts: It is used in the production of plastic parts for machinery and equipment.
2. Packaging: Polypropylene is used in various types of packaging, including food containers and clear plastic bags.
3. Textiles: Polypropylene fibers are used in clothing and diapers.
4. Carpets: It is used in all forms of carpeting, area rugs, and in upholstery.
5. Reusable Products: It is especially used in containers and similar products.
6. Laboratory Equipment: It is used in virtually every aspect where plastics are found.
It's worth noting that polypropylene can also be used in electronic components for electrical insulation.
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10. Carbon dioxide (CO2) is a chemical compound made up of one carbon atom covalently double bonded to two oxygen atoms. It is produced through several natural and artificial processes:
1. Respiration: Animals and humans produce carbon dioxide as a waste product of respiration.
2. Combustion: Carbon dioxide is formed in the combustion of carbon-containing materials.
3. Fermentation: It is also produced during the fermentation process.
4. Industrial Production: Commercially, carbon dioxide is produced by burning natural gas to separate the carbon and hydrogen atoms. The carbon atoms can then combine with oxygen to create CO2 as a by-product.
Uses of Carbon Dioxide
Carbon dioxide has numerous industrial and commercial uses:
1. Refrigerant: It is used as a refrigerant.
2. Fire Extinguishers: Carbon dioxide is found in various fire extinguishers.
3. Food Industry: It is used in carbonated beverages and to keep food cool (as dry ice).
4. Oil Industry: Carbon dioxide gas is used in enhanced oil recovery (EOR). EOR is a class of techniques for increasing the quantity of extracted crude oil from oil fields.
5. Chemical and Pharmaceutical Applications: Carbon dioxide gas is used to make urea (used as a fertilizer and in automobile systems and medicine), methanol, inorganic and organic carbonates, polyurethanes and sodium salicylate.
6. Photosynthesis: Plants use carbon dioxide to make food. This process is called photosynthesis.
7. Greenhouses: It is used to promote the growth of plants in greenhouses.
8. Electronics Industry: Carbon dioxide gas is used in the electronics industry for circuit board assembly, to clean surfaces and in the manufacture of semiconductor devices.
These are just a few examples of how Carbon Dioxide is used. Its applications are diverse and span many different fields and industries.
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11. Bricks are typically made from clay or shale. Here's a step-by-step process of how bricks are made:
1. Raw Material Preparation: The primary raw materials used for making bricks are clay or shale. The clay is mined, then ground and mixed with water to form a plastic material.
2. Molding: The clay is pressed into a rectangular block of uniform size, either by hand or by machine. The molded clay is then cut into individual bricks.
3. Drying: The molded bricks are dried to remove excess moisture.
4. Firing: The dried bricks are fired in a kiln at high temperatures to harden them. This process also gives the bricks their characteristic red color.
Uses of Bricks
Bricks are incredibly versatile and have a wide range of uses:
1. Structural Material: Bricks are commonly used in the construction of load-bearing walls and foundations.
2. Non-Structural Material: They can also be used for non-load bearing walls or partition walls.
3. Aesthetic Appearance: Bricks can be used to improve the aesthetic appearance of buildings.
4. Fire-Resistance: Bricks are fire-resistant and can be used in areas that require fire safety.
5. Sound Barrier: Bricks act as a good sound barrier, reducing noise transmission through walls.
6. Thermal Barrier: Bricks provide good thermal insulation, helping to keep buildings warm in winter and cool in summer.
7. Decorative Features: Bricks can be used for decorative features such as art pieces, name plaques, stepping stones, and more.
8. Cladding: Bricks can be used as a cladding material, providing an attractive and durable exterior finish.
These are just a few examples of how bricks are used. The specific use can vary depending on the type of brick and the requirements of the project.
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12. Porcelain is a type of ceramic material that is made by heating raw materials, generally including kaolinite, in a kiln to temperatures between 1,200 and 1,400 oC (2,200 and 2,600 oF). Here's a step-by-step process of how porcelain is made:
1. Raw Material Preparation: The primary raw material used for making porcelain is kaolinite. The kaolinite is mined, then ground and mixed with water to form a plastic material.
2. Molding: The kaolinite paste is worked into the required shape before firing.
3. Firing: The molded kaolinite is fired in a kiln at high temperatures to harden it. This process also gives the porcelain its characteristic white or artificially colored, translucent appearance.
Uses of Porcelain
Porcelain is incredibly versatile and has a wide range of uses:
1. Tableware and Dinnerware: Porcelain is commonly used to make crockery such as plates, bowls, and tea sets.
2. Decorative Ware: Porcelain can be used to make decorative items such as figurines.
3. Toilets: Porcelain is often used to make toilets, also known as "porcelain thrones".
4. Electrical Insulators: Porcelain has properties of low permeability and high resistance to corrosive chemicals and thermal shock, making it ideal for use as electrical insulators.
5. Laboratory Ware: Porcelain is used to make various types of laboratory equipment.
6. Tiles and Flooring: Porcelain is a popular material for tiles and flooring due to its durability and easy-to-clean surfaces.
7. Dental Restorations: Porcelain is used in dentistry for dental restorations.
These are just a few examples of how porcelain is used. The specific use can vary depending on the type of porcelain and the requirements of the project.
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13. Tungsten carbide is a chemical compound containing equal parts of tungsten and carbon atoms. The manufacturing process of tungsten carbide involves a process known as powder metallurgy. Here's a step-by-step process:
1. Preparation: Tungsten and carbon are combined in the form of a fine gray powder.
2. Reaction: The tungsten and carbon atoms are combined at high temperatures, in a furnace, in the presence of a metal binder, usually cobalt. This reaction occurs at temperatures between 1,400-2,000 oC.
3. Sintering: The resulting product can be pressed and formed into shapes through a process called sintering for use in various applications.
Uses of Tungsten Carbide
Tungsten carbide is incredibly versatile and has a wide range of uses:
1. Industrial Machinery: Tungsten carbide is used in various types of industrial machinery.
2. Cutting Tools: It is used to make cutting tools, including saws and drills.
3. Chisels: Tungsten carbide is used to make chisels.
4. Abrasives: It is used in the manufacture of abrasives.
5. Armor-Piercing Shells: Tungsten carbide is used in the production of armor-piercing shells.
6. Jewelry: Due to its hardness and ability to be polished to a high shine, tungsten carbide is also used in jewelry.
These are just a few examples of how tungsten carbide is used. The specific use can vary depending on the type of tungsten carbide and the requirements of the project.
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14. Diamonds are formed deep within the Earth's mantle, under conditions of intense heat and pressure that cause carbon atoms to crystallize. Here's a step-by-step process:
1. Formation in Earth's Mantle: Diamonds are formed about 100 miles deep in the Earth, in the mantle layer. Here, temperatures exceed 2,100 degrees Fahrenheit and pressure is over 725,000 pounds per square inch.
2. Molecular Modification: Under these extreme conditions, carbon atoms bond together in a strong, triangular shape, resulting in the formation of diamonds.
3. Transportation to the Surface: Diamonds are brought to the surface of the Earth through deep-source volcanic eruptions. These eruptions create kimberlite pipes, which are vertical structures filled with igneous rocks.
Uses of Diamonds
Diamonds are not only used as gemstones but also have various industrial applications due to their hardness:
1. Cutting Tools: Diamonds are used in cutting tools, including saw blades and drills.
2. Medical Devices: The durability of diamonds makes them ideal for use in medical devices, such as dental drills.
3. Scientific Instruments: Diamonds are used to coat scientific tools to prevent unwanted chemical reactions.
4. Industrial Abrasives: Diamonds are used as abrasives in various industries.
5. Jewelry: Diamonds are popularly used in jewelry due to their brilliance, hardness, and rarity.
These are just a few examples of how diamonds are used. The specific use can vary depending on the type of diamond and the requirements of the project.
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15. Graphene is produced in two principal ways that can be described as either a top-down or bottom-up process1. Here's a step-by-step process:
1. Top-Down Process: The world's first sheet of graphene was created in 2004 out of graphite. Graphite, commonly known as pencil lead, is composed of millions of graphene sheets stacked on top of one another.
2. Bottom-Up Process: Graphene production begins with a sheet of copper foil, held within a furnace filled with argon gas, designed to drive out oxygen in the air. Carbon atoms are then deposited onto the matrix, and a plastic coating is added to cover the sheet, which is then spun 3,000 times a minute.
Uses of Graphene
Graphene has a wide range of potential applications due to its exceptional mechanical, electrical, and thermal properties:
1. Electronics: Graphene's high electrical conductivity makes it ideal for use in electronics.
2. Energy Storage: Graphene can be used in energy storage devices, such as batteries.
3. Sensors: Due to its sensitivity to changes in its environment, graphene can be used in sensors.
4. Coatings: Graphene's durability and resistance to corrosion make it suitable for use in coatings.
5. Biomedical Devices: Graphene's biocompatibility and strength make it useful in biomedical devices.
6. Flexible Electronics: Graphene's flexibility and strength make it ideal for use in flexible electronics.
7. Water Purification: Graphene can be used to create membranes for water purification.
These are just a few examples of how graphene is used. The specific use can vary depending on the type of graphene and the requirements of the project.
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16. Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) is a thermoplastic polymer resin of the polyester family. It is produced by the polymerization of ethylene glycol and terephthalic acid. Here's a step-by-step process:
1. Esterification Reaction: This involves the reaction between terephthalic acid and ethylene glycol.
2. Trans-Esterification Reaction: This involves the reaction between ethylene glycol and dimethyl terephthalate.
The reaction produces PET in the form of a molten, viscous mass that can be spun directly to fibers or solidified for later processing as a plastic.
Uses of PET
PET has a wide range of applications due to its excellent combination of properties:
1. Fibers for Clothing: PET is spun into fibers for permanent-press fabrics.
2. Containers for Liquids and Foods: PET is blow-molded into disposable beverage bottles.
3. Thermoforming for Manufacturing: PET is used in thermoforming for manufacturing.
4. Engineering Resins: PET is used in combination with glass fiber for engineering resins.
5. Films: PET is extruded into photographic film and magnetic recording tape.
6. Insulated Clothing: PET is also made into fiber filling for insulated clothing and for furniture and pillows.
7. Artificial Silk: When made in very fine filaments, it is used in artificial silk.
8. Carpets: In large-diameter filaments, it is used in carpets.
These are just a few examples of how PET is used. The specific use can vary depending on the type of PET and the requirements of the project.
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17. Polycarbonate is a high-performance, transparent thermoplastic polymer. It is produced through a reaction of bisphenol A (BPA) and phosgene COCl. The process involves two main stages. The first stage is the production of bisphenol A, while the second stage involves condensation polymerization, where bisphenol A reacts with phosgene.
Polycarbonate has a unique set of properties that make it suitable for a variety of applications. Some of the common uses of polycarbonate include:
1. Eyeglasses: Due to its high impact resistance and optical clarity, polycarbonate is often used in eyewear.
2. Medical Devices: Polycarbonate's strength and durability make it ideal for use in medical devices.
3. Auto Parts: Polycarbonate is used in the automotive industry due to its toughness and heat resistance.
4. Lighting Fixtures: Polycarbonate's transparency and ability to withstand high temperatures make it suitable for lighting fixtures.
5. Optical Disks: Polycarbonate's excellent optical properties make it ideal for use in DVDs and Blu-Rays.
6. Safety Helmets and Bullet-Proof Glass: Due to its high impact strength, it is used in safety helmets and bullet-proof glass.
7. Baby Feeding Bottles, Roofing, and Glazing: Polycarbonate's durability, safety, and heat resistance make it suitable for these applications.
Polycarbonate is also used in engineering due to its strength, toughness, and some grades are optically transparent. It is easily worked, molded, and thermoformed. Because of these properties, polycarbonates find many applications.
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18. Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless, and toxic gas. It is predominantly produced by the incomplete combustion of carbon-containing materials when insufficient oxygen is used in the fuel burning process. For use in manufacturing processes, carbon monoxide is made by passing air through a bed of incandescent coke or coal, or by the reaction of natural gas with oxygen at high temperatures in the presence of a catalyst.
Carbon monoxide has a variety of uses in both manufacturing and medical products:
Manufacturing Uses:
1. Production of hydrogen, heterogeneous catalysts, pure metals, acetic anhydride, formic acid, methyl formate, N,N-dimethylformamide, propanoic acid.
2. Used as a reducing agent in blast furnaces.
3. Creation of other chemicals, including methanol (used to make fuel and solvents), and phosgene (an industrial chemical used to make pesticides and plastics).
4. Used in some lasers that cut glass.
5. Production of acrylic acid, a compound used in diapers, water treatment, and textiles.
Medical Uses:
1. Used to create aluminum chloride, a chemical in skin medications.
It's important to note that while carbon monoxide has these uses, it is a dangerous gas and exposure can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning. Therefore, it's crucial to handle it with care and use appropriate safety measures.
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19. Sand is formed through a process called weathering and erosion. It's essentially the end product of decomposed rocks, organic by-products, and even parrotfish poop. Rocks, especially quartz (silica) and feldspar, break down over thousands and even millions of years due to weathering and eroding. These rocks often start thousands of miles from the ocean and slowly travel down rivers and streams, constantly breaking down along the way. Once they reach the ocean, they further erode from the constant action of waves and tides.
The color of the sand can vary depending on its composition. For instance, the tan color of most sand beaches is the result of iron oxide, which tints quartz a light brown, and feldspar, which is brown to tan in its original form. Black sand comes from eroded volcanic material such as lava, basalt rocks, and other dark-colored rocks and minerals, and is typically found on beaches near volcanic activity.
Sand also comes from the remains of marine organisms. For example, the famous white-sand beaches of Hawaii actually come from the poop of parrotfish. The fish bite and scrape algae off of rocks and dead corals with their parrot-like beaks, grind up the inedible calcium-carbonate reef material (made mostly of coral skeletons) in their guts, and then excrete it as sand.
As for the uses of sand, they are quite diverse:
1. Construction: Sand is used in many construction materials like mortar, concrete, asphalt, stucco, bricks, and plaster. It serves as a filler ingredient in these materials.
2. Glass Manufacturing: Sand, because of its high silica content, is a key raw ingredient in making glass.
3. Beaches and Recreation: Sand is produced naturally by the sea and by rivers and they wash over rocks and shells. Beaches along the coastline are a result of this process of erosion.
4. Water Filtration: Sand is used in industrial and municipal settings as an effective and economical way to perform water filtration.
5. Metal Casting and Sandblasting: Sand is used in the process of casting metals and in sandblasting operations.
6. Agriculture: Certain types of sand are used in agriculture to improve the drainage of soils.
These are just a few examples of how sand is formed and its uses. It's a fascinating material that plays a crucial role in various aspects of our lives.
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20. Limestone is a type of carbonate sedimentary rock primarily composed of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate (CaCO3). It forms when these minerals precipitate out of water containing dissolved calcium. This can occur through both biological and nonbiological processes, though biological processes, such as the accumulation of corals and shells in the sea, have likely been more important for the last 540 million years.
As for its uses, limestone has numerous applications:
1. Chemical Feedstock: It's used for the production of lime (CaO) that is used to treat soils, purify water, and smelt copper.
2. Construction Material: Certain varieties of limestone serve as a building stone; they are widely used for flooring, exterior and interior facings, and monuments.
3. Industrial Uses: Limestone is used as a filler in a variety of products, including paper, plastic, and paint.
4. Food and Medicine: The purest limestone is even used in foods and medicines such as breakfast cereals and calcium pills.
5. Agriculture: Lime, derived from limestone, has major applications in agriculture.
6. Cement Production: Limestone is used for the production of cement, an essential component of concrete.
7. Petroleum Reservoirs: Limestone formations contain about 30% of the world's petroleum reservoirs.
These are just a few examples of how Limestone is formed and its uses. It's a fascinating material that plays a crucial role in various aspects of our lives.
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21. Elektron 21 is a high-strength, fully heat-treatable magnesium-based casting alloy with excellent corrosion resistance and castability. Here are some of its common uses:
1. Aerospace: Used for manufacturing structural components, such as aircraft frames, engine components, and interior parts12.
2. Automotive: Utilized in applications where weight reduction is crucial2.
3. Military: Employed in various military applications due to its superior mechanical properties and corrosion resistance34.
4. Motorsport: Used in motorsport applications where high performance and lightweight materials are essential34.
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22. Duralumin, an aluminum-copper alloy, is known for its strength and lightweight properties. Here are some common uses:
1. Aircraft construction: Used in aircraft frames and other structural components.
2. Automotive industry: Parts like wheels and engine components.
3. Marine applications: Frames of speedboats.
4. Military: Lightweight guns and other equipment.
5. Medical field: Surgical and orthopedic instruments.
6. Construction: Bridges and building structures.
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Water -- Air -- Ice -- Glass -- Boron carbide -- Graphite -- Carbon fiber -- Polyethylene -- Polypropylene -- Carbon dioxide -- Brick -- Porcelain -- Tungsten carbide -- Diamond -- Graphene -- PET -- Polycarbonate -- Carbon monoxide -- Sand -- Limestone -- Elektron 21 -- Duralumin -- Zirconium-tin alloy -- Austenitic stainless steel -- Mild steel -- Gray iron -- TZM alloy -- Inconel -- ETP -- Cupronickel -- Zamak 3 -- Ruby -- Uranium dioxide -- Polystyrene -- Polyvinyl chloride -- Nitrous oxide -- Concrete -- Granite -- Pure titanium -- 6061 alloy -- Zirconium-niobium alloy -- Martensitic stainless steel -- High-carbon steel -- White iron -- Mo-25 Re alloy -- Hastelloy -- Brass -- Aluminium bronze -- Soft tin solder -- Salt -- Kevlar -- Polyamide-Nylon -- Rubber -- Methan -- Gas -- Quartz -- Ti-6Al-4V -- 7068 alloy -- Chromoly steel -- Duplex stainless steel -- Tool steel -- Ductile iron -- Tungsten-rhenium alloy -- Stellite -- Bronze -- Beryllium copper -- Amalgam -- Sugar -- Wax -- Coal -- Asphalt concrete -- Propane -- Glass wool -- Aerogel -- Rose gold -- Yellow gold -- White gold -- PH stainless steel -- High-speed steel -- Malleable iron -- Pure tungsten -- Invar -- Constantan -- Nickel silver -- Galistan -- Oak wood -- Pine wood -- Gasoline -- Diesel fuel -- Acetylene -- Gas
