Tag: Metals

According to the USGS, approximately 85% of commercial chromium is used for the production of stainless steel and chrome plating. This lustrous, hard metal is valued for its remarkable hardness, corrosion resistance, and ability to take a high polish. The purpose of chromium extends far beyond industry, with a small amount also being a key trace element in human biology.

As an alkaline earth metal, calcium is a highly reactive element that readily forms compounds with other substances. Due to its chemical properties, what does calcium react well with and what are the resulting products?

Our bodies require approximately 10 essential metal elements to function correctly. So, are metals micronutrients? Yes, certain metals are indeed essential micronutrients, required in trace amounts for fundamental processes like oxygen transport, enzyme function, and immune response.

In a 2018 survey conducted by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, aluminum was detected in 99% of the tested baking powders, baking mixes, and baked goods, though deemed not a health concern at reported levels. Understanding the specific metallic ingredients present in baking powder can help bakers choose the right product for their needs.

While Coca-Cola's official ingredient list does not include metals, scientific studies have sometimes detected trace amounts of heavy metals like lead and cadmium. These low-level contaminants are often attributed to leaching from plastic bottles during storage rather than being added intentionally.

A single gram of uranium-235 can release immense energy through nuclear fission, but can any metal has calories that humans can use for nutritional fuel? The short answer is no; metals fundamentally lack the complex chemical bonds found in digestible foods that our bodies are designed to break down for energy.

While some metallic elements are essential for bodily functions, with zinc, iron, and copper playing vital roles in immunity and oxygen transport, solid, unprocessed metal objects possess no nutritional value whatsoever. Ingesting items like metal shavings is extremely dangerous, potentially leading to life-threatening heavy metal poisoning.

Over 66 of the naturally occurring elements on Earth are metals, and their discovery and use have defined the course of human civilization. From ancient tools to modern microchips, understanding how is metal important to humans provides a crucial perspective on our technological and biological development.

By mass, iron is the most common element on Earth, with its chemical symbol derived from the Latin word *ferrum*. The primary name for elemental iron is simply "iron," but its historical Latin root serves as another significant and informative name.

Over 90% of bacteria contain a B12-dependent enzyme, but only about a third can produce it, requiring cobalt from their environment. This intricate process leads to a common question: does vitamin B12 contain metals? The definitive answer is yes; all cobalamins, which are compounds with vitamin B12 activity, contain the metallic element cobalt at their center.