15 Uses of Metals and their Applications in Daily life

Metals are widely used elements on the earth.

Uses of metals in daily life include

1. In Electric lightening
2. In food and water
3. Medicine
4. Cooking
5. Clothing
6. Jewelry
7. Furniture
8. Electronics and communication
9. Constructions (Buildings, bridges, Statues)
10. Security systems
11. Automobiles
12. Industries
13. Agriculture
14. Drilling and digging
15. Bullion market

Metal uses are many and this is due to their natural properties of rigidity, ductility, tensile strength, etc.

They have high atomic weights and numbers in the periodic table.

Their oxides are alkaline in nature, so they can resist acids.

Metals are very strong, durable, and highly resistant to natural wear and tear.

Hence they have been used widely by men since ancient ages.

In the past, these metals were profoundly used for Cooking, farming tools, weapons (bow, arrows, swords), and locomotive wagons.

But with growth in technology, the horizons of their use have widened enormously.

Currently, almost any object produced by the use of technology uses metals in one or another forms.

Modern man has also learned how to use the combination of metals, i.e., alloys, for his benefit.

So the use of metals in our daily life has become inevitable. Hence we can see that these are some of the highest-priced commodities in the market.

But which properties make these metals so useful?

There are a few desired properties like

• High resistance to heat.
• Ability to contract at low temperatures and expand at high temperatures, respectively. (thermocouple)
• Good electrical conductivity.
• Resistant to acids and other harsh chemicals
• Highly inert to most substances and liquids.

Metal Uses in Daily life

1. In Electric Lighting

Since the discovery of the light bulb, metal tungsten has been widely used to generate light from electricity.

When the electricity passes through the metallic coiled wire, it generates light due to resistance.

Due to the advancement of technology, the man currently uses incandescent bulbs, LED bulbs, and other types. Yet, these bulbs use metals to generate light from electricity.

2. In food and water

Metals are available as micro-elements in our bodies. They are needed for the conduction of nerve impulses, carrying oxygen by blood, facilitating enzyme reactions, and more.

So metals are available as trace elements in our food and the water we drink.

3. In medicine

Uses of metals can be found in many ways in medicine.

Sl.No	Metal name	Potential Medicinal uses
1.	Iron	Is used in anemia to increase hemoglobin content
2.	Lithium	Is used to treat mental disorders like mania.
3.	Calcium	Is used to enhance bone strength, as an antacid.
4.	Gold	Is used to prevent bone and joint damage in rheumatoid arthritis.
5.	Aluminum	As an antacid.
6.	Magnesium	As an antacid and for treatment of constipation
7.	Potassium	For nerve, and heart functions and also for radiation hazards as iodide form.
8.	Sodium	As an electrolyte, antacid.
9	Bismuth	As antidiarrheal medicine, antiulcer.
10	Copper	Anemia, Alzheimer’s disease.

Because of the above-said role of metals in the body, metals are used in medicine to cure any micro-nutrient metal deficiency diseases in humans and animals.

Ex. Iron is a part of hemoglobin, a biomolecule.

Hence it is used as ferrous sulfate to cure some forms of anemia.

Similarly, any metals constitute micro-essentials called “trace elements” in the body. They are part of a few enzymes and co-enzymes or in the form of electrolytes.

They are present in very trace quantities in both plants and animals. Examples include Sodium (Na), potassium (K), Magnesium (Mg), Ni, Cu, Co, etc.

Besides, metals like titanium, aluminum, and magnesium are widely used in medicine for roles like antacids. They are especially studied in the subject of inorganic chemistry.

Also, many tools used in medicine like scalpels, scissors, needles, and surgical blades, are made of metals.

They are used widely due to their toughness and ability to be sterilized at high temperatures.

4. In Cooking

Utensils are best made from metals like steel, aluminum, and copper. Stoves, furnaces, Bowels, troughs, spoons, and knives used in the kitchen are made from metal.

They are so much preferred as they can withstand temperature and are also used for wet and dry purposes.

5. Clothing

In clothing, metals are used to a limited extent. As you might have noticed, there are in the form of buttons, zips, belts, fasteners, etc.

Further, metals like copper, gold, and silver have been used in the making of cloth. They impart luster, strength, and other properties to the cloth. Such clothes are quite expensive and durable.

6. Jewelry

Metals like Gold, silver, platinum, and copper are widely used in jewelry. These metals are symbolic of financial status and hence very expensive.

7. Furniture

Furniture is an essential commodity at home. We use them as tables, chairs, sofa sets, etc.

Though most home furniture is made of wood, even metal is involved. You can find metal cots, fans stand, cupboards, and drawers that are mostly made from metal.

8. In Electronics and communication.

Electronics are equipment that primarily relies on electricity to function.

We use many electronics in daily life like TV, mobiles, fridges, etc. These electronics use metals in them for different purposes like electric conduction, temperature regulation, etc.

But one of the key purposes is to facilitate quick electricity transfer. Since metals are good conductors of electricity, like copper, lead is widely used.

Perhaps without metals, electronics would not have progressed so much.

Thermostats are made of a thermocouple. This is a combination of two different metals. This thermostat is specifically used to regulate the temperature in the refrigerator, Air-conditioner, etc.

It helps to switch on and off automatically in refrigerators and air conditioners.

9. Construction

The importance of metals in construction is so huge. Metals like Iron and steel are widely used in building and home constructions to impart strength and durability.

Their ability to withstand heavy weights makes them preferred in construction. They are commonly used as reinforced concrete roofing, pillars, foundations, staircases, etc.

10. Security systems

Metals play an important role in security systems.

Metals are used in making locks, lockers, safes, and cupboards to store valuable items.

They are used to prevent theft or any misplacement.

11. Automobiles

All the automobiles like bikes, cars, buses, airplanes, trains, etc. are made of metals extensively.

Metals can withstand high temperatures and pressure during the work of these machines.

The commonly used metal are Iron, steel, aluminum, etc. for cranes, mills, and satellites. Machines and automobiles include road vehicles, railways, airplanes, rockets, etc.

Besides these, metals are the only sought materials to store and transport gasses under pressure.

Cylinders are tanks to store metals that are exclusively made of metal to store and also safely dispense the gas when needed.

12. Industry Machinery

Any industry is dependent on metals to a large extent. Starting from their construction to the process involved, metals play a huge role.

The heavy equipment, tools, calibration instruments, transport chains, and chimneys used in industry are all made of metals.

This is due to some of their properties like molding, hardness, durability, and ductility required for various industrial setups.

13. In Agriculture.

Farming requires many metal tools for tilling the soil, cutting, planting the seeds, etc. So most of the farming equipment is made of metals like Iron, steel, etc.

They can be used in both wet and dry conditions as required in agriculture.

14. Drilling and digging

If you wish to dig the ground for making a bore well or a tunnel through a hill, metals and equipment made of metals are the only choice.

This is true since the ages of man’s civilization. Hence, crowbars, shovels, and pick-axes are made of metals for digging manually.

Even for bore-well machines, the drill is made of pure metal.

15. Bullion market

Metals play a vital role in the economy. So there are many people who invest in metal stocks and bullion markets to make fortunes.

Since they are evergreen and always in demand, they have been considered some of the best and safe options for investors.

Even many countries’ economy depends on mineral exports of metals.

Similarly, mercury which is a liquid at room temperature is used in thermometers to record daily temperatures.

Its ability to contract and expand with a small variation in temperatures makes it preferable.

Due to so many common uses of metals, there is a separate division of science and technology as metallurgy to explore better metal combinations and also uses.