How does this affect our uses for metal and non-metal?

Question

Answer this by giving some uses for metal and non-metal materials and explain how the melting and boiling points make them suitable.

Answer 1

Hi Phoenix D.,

An odd question. Melting and boiling points are seldom the issue dictating use of metal vs. non-metal. There are some metal alloys (Wood's metal, NaK, amalgams etc.) with low melting points, but there are also non-metals (salts, etc.) with comparable ranges. Properties of metals that make them useful as metals (as opposed to in other chemical forms) in ordinary objects include: durability (non-brittleness); ductility; solvent resistance; electrical and thermal conductivity; and occasional other things (luster, enthalpy of oxidation). Almost never are melting/freezing used for metal items (I suppose you could note uses for mercury in switches, since it is the only liquid metal at RT) , and rarely is boiling/deposition used (except for sputtering samples for electron microscopy, or preparing high-tech compositions or devices).

On a lighter note, I suppose combustion includes properties of vaporization -- and this would be of potential interest to you, given the name Phoenix??

--Cheers, -- Mr. d.