This book examines the processes performed by industry to extract metals, discusses at how such chemical processes affect every-day life, examines what alloys are produced and used, looks at what waste is produced as metals are made, and illustrates chemical processes in which industry has made strides to improve or "green" their production.

• Preface
• Contents
• 1 Introduction and overview
  • 1.1 Historic, ancient
  • 1.2 Large-scale use
  • 1.3 Eighteenth and nineteenth century discoveries
  • 1.4 Modern, niche uses
  • 1.5 Modern, major use metals
  • 1.6 Recycling and re-use
• 2 Copper
  • 2.1 Introduction
  • 2.2 Refining and isolation
  • 2.3 Uses
    • 2.3.1 Piping
    • 2.3.2 Wiring and machinery
    • 2.3.3 Coinage
  • 2.4 Bronze
  • 2.5 Brass
  • 2.6 Other alloys
  • 2.7 Possible substitutes
  • 2.8 Recycling
• 3 Tin
  • 3.1 Introduction
  • 3.2 Refining and isolation
  • 3.3 Tin, uses and applications
    • 3.3.1 Solders
    • 3.3.2 Plating
    • 3.3.3 Niobium–tin
    • 3.3.4 Glass production
    • 3.3.5 Tin in polyvinyl chloride
  • 3.4 Possible substitutes
  • 3.5 Recycling
• 4 Zinc
  • 4.1 Introduction
  • 4.2 Refining and isolation
  • 4.3 Uses
    • 4.3.1 Galvanizing
    • 4.3.2 Nickel silver
    • 4.3.3 Solders
    • 4.3.4 Paint pigments
    • 4.3.5 Sacrificial anodes
    • 4.3.6 Batteries
  • 4.4 Possible substitutes
  • 4.5 Recycling
• 5 Pewter
  • 5.1 Introduction
  • 5.2 Production
  • 5.3 History and traditional uses
  • 5.4 Modern applications
  • 5.5 Recycling
• 6 Gold
  • 6.1 Introduction
  • 6.2 Refining and isolation
  • 6.3 The carat system – 18, 14, 12, 10 Carat
  • 6.4 Uses
    • 6.4.1 Jewelry
    • 6.4.2 Investment coins
    • 6.4.3 Electronics
  • 6.5 White gold
  • 6.6 Possible substitutes
  • 6.7 Recycling
• 7 Silver
  • 7.1 Introduction
  • 7.2 Refining and isolation
  • 7.3 Uses
    • 7.3.1 Jewelry
    • 7.3.2 Silverware
    • 7.3.3 Investment coins
    • 7.3.4 Photography
    • 7.3.5 Batteries
    • 7.3.6 Electronics
    • 7.3.7 Ethylene oxide
  • 7.4 Possible substitutes
  • 7.5 Recycling
• 8 Iron and steel
  • 8.1 Introduction
  • 8.2 Ore sources
  • 8.3 Steel production
  • 8.4 Uses of iron and steel
  • 8.5 By-product production
  • 8.6 Recycling
• 9 Platinum group metals
  • 9.1 Introduction
  • 9.2 Sources, refining and isolation
  • 9.3 Uses
    • 9.3.1 Ruthenium
    • 9.3.2 Osmium
    • 9.3.3 Rhodium
    • 9.3.4 Iridium
    • 9.3.5 Palladium
    • 9.3.6 Platinum
  • 9.4 Possible substitutes
  • 9.5 Recycling
• 10 Nickel
  • 10.1 Introduction
  • 10.2 Refining and isolation
  • 10.3 Uses
    • 10.3.1 Steels
    • 10.3.2 Superalloys
    • 10.3.3 Shape memory alloys
    • 10.3.4 Plating
    • 10.3.5 Nickels
  • 10.4 Possible substitutes
  • 10.5 Recycling
• 11 Aluminum
  • 11.1 Introduction
  • 11.2 Refining and isolation, the Hall–Heroult process
  • 11.3 Uses
  • 11.4 Possible substitutes
  • 11.5 Recycling
• 12 Titanium
  • 12.1 Introduction
  • 12.2 Location and sources
  • 12.3 Refining and isolation
    • 12.3.1 The Kroll process
    • 12.3.2 The Hunter process
  • 12.4 Uses
    • 12.4.1 High strength alloys
    • 12.4.2 Pigments, titanium white or titanium dioxide
  • 12.5 Possible substitutes
  • 12.6 Recycling
• 13 Magnesium
  • 13.1 Introduction
  • 13.2 Refining and isolation
  • 13.3 Uses
    • 13.3.1 Elemental magnesium
    • 13.3.2 Magnesium–aluminumalloys
    • 13.3.3 Castings
    • 13.3.4 Automotive
    • 13.3.5 Aerospace
    • 13.3.6 Electronic
  • 13.4 Possible substitutes
  • 13.5 Recycling
• 14 Uranium and thorium
  • 14.1 Introduction
  • 14.2 Refining and isolation
    • 14.2.1 Uranium isolation and refining
    • 14.2.2 Thorium isolation and refining
  • 14.3 Uses
    • 14.3.1 Power generation
    • 14.3.2 Weaponry
    • 14.3.3 Compounds and uses
  • 14.4 Possible substitutes
  • 14.5 Recycling
• 15 Americium
  • 15.1 Introduction
  • 15.2 Refining and isolation
  • 15.3 Uses
    • 15.3.1 Smoke detectors
    • 15.3.2 Other uses
  • 15.4 Recycling
• 16 Mercury
  • 16.1 Introduction
  • 16.2 Refining and isolation
  • 16.3 Uses
    • 16.3.1 Chlor-alkali process
    • 16.3.2 Barometers and thermometers
    • 16.3.3 Amalgams and compounds
  • 16.4 Possible substitutes
  • 16.5 Recycling
• 17 Lanthanides
  • 17.1 Introduction
  • 17.2 Refining and isolation
  • 17.3 Uses
    • 17.3.1 Catalysts
    • 17.3.2 Magnets, Nd2Fe14B, plus SmCo5 and Sm2Co17
    • 17.3.3 Alloys
    • 17.3.4 Heavy rare earth element uses
  • 17.4 Possible substitutes
  • 17.5 Recycling
• 18 Lead
  • 18.1 Introduction
  • 18.2 History
  • 18.3 Refining and isolation
  • 18.4 Uses
    • 18.4.1 Batteries
    • 18.4.2 Construction material
    • 18.4.3 Ammunition, hunting and military
    • 18.4.4 Alloys
  • 18.5 Possible substitutes
  • 18.6 Recycling
• 19 Tungsten
  • 19.1 Introduction
  • 19.2 Refining and isolation
  • 19.3 Uses
    • 19.3.1 Carbide parts
    • 19.3.2 High-strength alloys
  • 19.4 Possible substitutes
  • 19.5 Recycling
• 20 Tantalum and niobium
  • 20.1 Introduction
  • 20.2 Refining and isolation
  • 20.3 Uses
    • 20.3.1 Major uses
    • 20.3.2 Wiring and magnets
    • 20.3.3 Niobium coinage
  • 20.4 Possible substitutes
  • 20.5 Recycling
• 21 Sodium
  • 21.1 Introduction
  • 21.2 Refining and isolation
    • 21.2.1 Downs cell
    • 21.2.2 Chlor-alkali process
  • 21.3 Uses
    • 21.3.1 Sodium borohydride
    • 21.3.2 Sodium azide, NaN3
    • 21.3.3 Triphenylphosphine, P(C6H5)3
    • 21.3.4 Reactor moderator material
    • 21.3.5 Alloying agent
    • 21.3.6 Sodium vapor lamps
  • 21.4 Recycling
• 22 Lithium
  • 22.1 Introduction
  • 22.2 Refining and isolation
  • 22.3 Uses
    • 22.3.1 Lightweight alloys
    • 22.3.2 Batteries
  • 22.4 Possible substitutes
  • 22.5 Recycling
• Index