There were more than 64 kinds of non-ferrous metals. -- clarity on the division of non-ferrous metals

As an important part of modern materials, non-ferrous metals and their alloys play an important role in the national economy, people's daily life, national defense industry, science and technology development and other fields.

Human research and exploration of non-ferrous metals, like the understanding of nature, is a deepening process from macro to micro. With the continuous improvement of the research, the elements in the periodic table of chemical elements have been going through the process of continuous determination, accuracy and increase.

At present, more than 80% of the 118 elements in the periodic table are metal elements. Whether these metals belong to non-ferrous metals and how to divide them is a question worth clarifying again.

What are non-ferrous metals?

The English translation of "non-ferrous metal" is "Nonferrous Metals", which corresponds to the English translation of "Ferrous Metals" of "ferrous metal".

"Ferrous Metals" is literally translated as iron metal, which refers to the general name of iron, manganese and chromium. "Nonferrous Metals" is literally translated as non-ferrous metals, that is, a general term for metals other than iron, manganese and chromium.

According to an old man who has been working in the non-ferrous metals industry for a long time, the process of translating "Ferrous Metals" and "Nonferrous Metals" into "ferrous metals" and "non-ferrous metals" is also an interesting story that embodies the art of translation.

The scholars who first translated "Ferrous Metals" and "Nonferrous Metals" felt that if they were directly translated into "iron metal" and "non-iron metal", or "iron-containing metal" and "iron-free metal", although it took into account the accuracy of the translation, it was not concise, and it was a mouthful in use. So the scholar jumped out of the habitual thinking and recreated in translation based on the optical properties of metals.

Although the pure iron is silvery white, the iron that is often seen in people's daily work and life is black. This is because the surface of iron is covered with a black oxide film: iron tetroxide. It is precisely because of this oxide film that iron gives the impression of black, so from this point of view, "Ferrous Metals" is re-creatively translated as "ferrous metal".

With "ferrous metal", considering that silver is white, gold is gold, copper is yellow, lead is gray, "non-ferrous metal" shows colorful optical properties, so "Nonferrous Metals" is translated as "non-ferrous metal".

Since then, "ferrous metal" and "non-ferrous metal" have become the Chinese word for "Ferrous Metals" and "Nonferrous Metals" and spread in the industry.

The definition of "non-ferrous metals" in the section "Metallic Materials-Nonferrous Metals" in "Da Cihai (Volume of Materials Science)" is "a general term for all metal elements except iron, chromium and manganese in the periodic table." Can be divided into four categories: (1) heavy metals, including copper, lead, zinc, nickel, etc.; (2) light metals, including aluminum, magnesium, titanium, etc.; (3) precious metals, including gold, silver, platinum, etc.; (4) rare metals, including tungsten, molybdenum, tantalum, niobium, thorium, beryllium, indium, germanium, rare earth metals and so on. As rare metals play an important role in modern industry, they are often separated from non-ferrous metals into a separate category. "

"rare metal" is defined as: "also known as' new metal'. Metals with low content, scattered distribution, difficult extraction and late application in the earth's crust. So far, there is no unified division standard in the world. According to Chinese practice, rare metals are generally divided into five categories: rare light metals, rare high melting point metals, rare earth metals, rare dispersed metals and radioactive metals. Rare metals are new materials with excellent properties and special functions, and their applications generally include military technology applications, industrial applications, agricultural applications, tertiary industry applications and high-tech applications. "

"rare radioactive metals" are defined as: "also known as' radioactive rare metals'. A class of rare metals. Including natural radioactive metals. And artificial radioactive elements. "

According to the definition of "non-ferrous metals" in "Da Cihai", all metals in the periodic table except non-metallic elements and "iron, chromium and manganese" are non-ferrous metals.

The English translation of "Nonferrous Metals" of "non-ferrous metals" is also consistent with the definition in "Da Cihai".

Therefore, the accurate definition of "non-ferrous metal" should be the general name of all metal elements except iron, chromium and manganese in the periodic table.

The origin of the division of 64 kinds of non-ferrous metals

With regard to the division of 64 specific varieties of non-ferrous metals, the most extensive and common view is: in 1958, China listed iron, chromium and manganese as ferrous metals, and 64 metals other than iron, chromium and manganese as non-ferrous metals.

According to the book 64 Nonferrous Metals edited by Wang Yishui, Wang Zhixiong and Shen Jianzhong, published by Central South University of Technology Press in 1997, 64 non-ferrous metals include: aluminum, magnesium, potassium, sodium, calcium, strontium, barium, copper, lead, zinc, tin, cobalt, nickel, antimony, mercury, cadmium, bismuth, gold, silver, platinum, ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, osmium, iridium, beryllium, lithium, rubidium, cesium, titanium, zirconium, hafnium, niobium, tantalum, tungsten, molybdenum, gallium, thallium, lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, neodymium, samarium, europium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, holmium, erbium, thulium, ytterbium, lutetium, Selenium, tellurium, arsenic, thorium. This method is also the most widely spread method for the division of 64 kinds of non-ferrous metals.

In 1958, China delineated the specific sources of 64 kinds of non-ferrous metals, although there is no textual research. However, Mr. Fei Ziwen once mentioned in the article that "the world is constantly changing from generation to generation-- deeply mourning Comrade Qiu Chunfu and other veteran comrades of the former head office": "Comrade Qiu Chunfu." From 1956 to 1969, he served as a member of the party group and director of the General Office of the Ministry of Metallurgy, in charge of the daily work of non-ferrous metals. During this period, he presided over the compilation of a report entitled "striving for a Leap in the output of Nonferrous Metals and occupying all areas of Nonferrous Metals" reported to the CPC Central Committee and Chairman Mao. Chairman Mao instructed:'64 non-ferrous metals cannot do without it.' Deng Xiaoping instructed: "64 kinds of non-ferrous metals should be used as 64 fortresses and should be captured one by one." After that, after Comrade Sun Hongru organized the Beijing General Research Institute of Nonferrous Metals and other scientific research institutions to tackle key problems, China has mastered all 64 kinds of non-ferrous metal extraction technology. "

In the article "Mao Zedong and the Development and Construction of Panzhihua", Mr. Zhong Shaoxi also mentioned: "on April 5, 1958, Wang Heshou submitted to the CPC Central Committee a report entitled" striving for the Leap in the output of Nonferrous Metals. "occupy all areas of non-ferrous metals" report said: no matter heavy industry or light industry, the demand for all kinds of non-ferrous metals is increasing. Jets and missiles in the atomic industry, the electronics industry and the national defense industry cannot be established and developed without non-ferrous metals (especially rare metals). The output of non-ferrous metals must be increased at a faster rate than other sectors. In the second five-year Plan, non-ferrous metals will increase by more than three times in order to gradually catch up with other industrial levels in our country. The Central Committee of the Communist Party of China has issued a directive saying that it agrees with the plans and measures put forward by the party group of the Ministry of Metallurgical Industry on the non-ferrous metals industry. "

It can be seen from the above text that the division of 64 kinds of non-ferrous metals in 1958 may stem from the report "striving for a leap in the production of non-ferrous metals and occupying all areas of non-ferrous metals".

Problems existing in the division of 64 kinds of non-ferrous metals

There are still some problems worth discussing in the widely spread method of dividing 64 kinds of non-ferrous metals, which is introduced in the book "64 kinds of Nonferrous Metals".

1. Among the natural radioactive elements, why only "thorium" belongs to non-ferrous metals?

In the preface to 64 kinds of non-ferrous metals, there is an introduction to the division of 64 kinds of non-ferrous metals. "uranium, polonium, thorium, radium, Actinium and perylene" are 6 kinds of natural radioactive metals, belonging to 51 kinds of rare metals, which are different from 13 kinds of common non-ferrous metals, including 64 kinds of non-ferrous metals.

The 64 kinds of non-ferrous metals in the introduction of the preface are different from the 64 kinds of non-ferrous metals in the specific content of the book, using five kinds of natural radioactive metals: "uranium, polonium, radium, Actinium and perylene". Replaced the specific content of the book introduced in the "silicon, boron, selenium, tellurium, arsenic" five quasi-metals.

From the definition of "non-ferrous metals", not only "thorium", but all radioactive metals, including "uranium, polonium, radium, actinides, and malonium", belong to non-ferrous metals. As a result, there are far more than 64 varieties of non-ferrous metals.

two。 Among the rare earth metals, why is it that only "iron" does not belong to non-ferrous metals?

In the book "64 Nonferrous Metals", the element "curium" is not among the 64 nonferrous metals. However, in "Da Cihai", rare earth metals are defined as: "Scandium, yttrium and lanthanide metals: lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, neodymium, phosphine, samarium, europium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, holmium, erbium, thulium, ytterbium and lutetium."

Since "rare earth metal" belongs to "rare metal" and "rare metal" belongs to "non-ferrous metal", then "rare metal" metal should also be non-ferrous metal.

3. Is quasi-metal non-ferrous metal?

In "Da Cihai", the definition of "quasi-metal" is: "A kind of elements that show the characteristics of metal in appearance, but show the chemical properties of metal and non-metal." For example, boron, silicon, germanium, arsenic, antimony, tellurium and so on. Some of these elements or their compounds have semiconductor properties. Some of their oxides are soluble in both acids and bases. "

"Da Cihai" mentions in the definition of "metal": "…" It is sometimes difficult to distinguish between a small number of metals and nonmetals. Some elements can be classified as metals or non-metals (such as boron, arsenic, antimony, selenium, tellurium, etc.) according to their properties, sometimes referred to as' quasi-metals'. "

According to the above definition, the five quasi-metal elements "silicon, boron, selenium, tellurium and arsenic" can be classified as metals and belong to the list of non-ferrous metals.

To sum up, there are some shortcomings in the existing 64 methods for the classification of non-ferrous metals, which do not include all the non-ferrous metals.

Discussion on the concrete division of non-ferrous metals

There are many kinds of non-ferrous metals, and the properties of each metal are complex. in the specific classification of non-ferrous metals, due to different definitions, the same metal variety can belong to different subcategories. Internationally, there is no unified standard for the division of rare metals.

However, according to the relevant definition in "Da Cihai" and the practice of our country, combined with the outstanding characteristics of various metal varieties and the actual application of the industry, on the basis of avoiding repeated division, the following division can be made for discussion.

1. Non-ferrous light metals (8 kinds)

Aluminum, magnesium, calcium, sodium, titanium, potassium, strontium, barium.

In "Da Cihai", "light metal" is defined as: "generally refers to the metal whose relative density is less than 5." It can be divided into two categories: non-ferrous light metal and rare light metal. The former has aluminum, magnesium, calcium, sodium, titanium, potassium, strontium, etc., while the latter has lithium, beryllium, rubidium, cesium and so on. "

According to the definition of "light metal" and the practice and application of non-ferrous metal industry, aluminum, magnesium, calcium, sodium, titanium, potassium, strontium and barium are classified as "non-ferrous light metal".

two。 Non-ferrous heavy metals (10 kinds)

Copper, cobalt, nickel, lead, zinc, cadmium, bismuth, tin, antimony, mercury.

In "Da Cihai", "heavy metal" is defined as: "generally refers to the metal whose relative density is greater than 5. Such as copper, cobalt, nickel, lead, zinc, cadmium, bismuth, tin, antimony, mercury, niobium, tantalum, tungsten, molybdenum, etc. " According to this definition, all metals can be divided into heavy metals and light metals.

However, among the heavy metals, although the relative density of niobium, tantalum, tungsten and molybdenum is also greater than 5, they belong to the list of heavy metals, but considering that heavy metals such as niobium, tantalum, tungsten and molybdenum have the characteristics of both rare and refractory metals, they can be further divided. Therefore, with reference to "non-ferrous light metals" and "rare light metals" in the definition of "light metals", 10 metals such as copper, cobalt, nickel, lead, zinc, cadmium, bismuth, tin, antimony and mercury are separately classified as "non-ferrous heavy metals" to distinguish them from other heavy metals.

3. Precious metals (8 kinds)

Gold, silver, platinum, ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, osmium, iridium.

In "Da Cihai", "precious metal" is defined as "a class of non-ferrous metals." With few reserves in the earth's crust, it was once considered to be the most precious metal, hence the name. Including gold, silver and platinum metals. Most of them have strong chemical stability and good ductility. Can be used as a catalyst. "

According to this definition, gold, silver, platinum, ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, osmium and iridium are classified as "precious metals".

4. Rare light metals (4 kinds)

Lithium, beryllium, rubidium, cesium.

According to the definition of "Dazhihai" and "light metal", lithium, beryllium, rubidium and cesium are classified into this category.

5. Rare refractory metals (8 kinds)

Tungsten molybdenum tantalum niobium vanadium zirconium rhenium hafnium.

In Da Cihai, "rare metal with high melting point" is defined as "rare metal whose melting point is higher than that of iron (1535 ℃)." Including groups 4-6 (IVB, VB, VIB), rhenium and platinum, osmium, iridium, ruthenium, rhodium and palladium in precious metals. "

Taking into account platinum, osmium, iridium, ruthenium, rhodium and palladium, they have been classified as "precious metals" according to their characteristics. With reference to the classification of "non-ferrous light metals", "rare light metals" and "non-ferrous heavy metals" in "light metals" and "heavy metals", tungsten, molybdenum, tantalum, niobium, vanadium, zirconium, rhenium and hafnium are classified as "rare refractory metals". As a subdivision of "rare high melting point metals".

6. Rare dispersed metals (4 kinds)

Germanium, gallium, indium, thallium.

In "Da Cihai", "rare dispersed metal" is defined as "also known as' scattered metal'." A metal that does not form an independent deposit in nature but is dispersed in other minerals as impurities. It's a kind of rare metal. Including germanium, gallium, indium, thallium, hafnium, rhenium and other metals. "

According to this definition, hafnium and rhenium are also "rare dispersed metals". However, considering that hafnium and rhenium have the characteristics of both "rare refractory metals", they have been classified accordingly. In order to avoid repeated division, and combined with the reality of the industry, only germanium, gallium, indium and thallium are listed as "rare dispersed metals".

7. Rare earth metals (17 kinds)

Lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, neodymium, thulium, ytterbium, lutetium, scandium, yttrium.

(1) Light rare earth metals (7 kinds)

Lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, neodymium, Sm, EU.

(2) heavy rare earth metals (10 kinds)

Gadolinium terbium dysprosium holmium erbium thulium ytterbium lutetium scandium yttrium.

In "Da Cihai", the definition of "rare earth metal" is: "Scandium, yttrium and lanthanide metals: lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, neodymium, sm, samarium, europium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, holmium, erbium, thulium, ytterbium and lutetium. From lanthanum to europium is called 'light rare earth metal', and from gadolinium to lutetium including scandium and yttrium is called 'heavy rare earth metal'. "

According to the definition, lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, neodymium, samarium, europium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, holmium, erbium, thulium, ytterbium, lutetium, scandium and yttrium are classified as "rare earth metals". Lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, neodymium, sm, samarium and europium are classified as light rare earth metals and gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, holmium, erbium, thulium, ytterbium, lutetium, scandium and yttrium as heavy rare earth metals

8. Quasi-metal (5 kinds)

Boron, silicon, arsenic, selenium, tellurium.

For the basis of division, see question 3 in section 3.

9. Rare radioactive metals (32)

Technetium, polonium, polonium, radium, thorium, thorium, uranium, neptunium, plutonium, americium, curium, californium, curium, californium, curium, malonium, curium, californium, cymbium, americium, curium, californium, cymbium, americium, curium, californium.

In "Da Cihai", "rare radioactive metal" is defined as "also known as' radioactive rare metal'." A class of rare metals. Including natural radioactive metals. And artificial radioactive elements. "

According to this definition, all radioactive metals fall into this category. Taking into account the radioactive metal "metal", according to its characteristics, has been included in the "light rare earth metal", in order to avoid duplication, not included in the "rare radioactive metal" list.

According to the above division method, the current stage of non-ferrous metals include 9 categories and 96 kinds of non-ferrous metals (see table below for specific classification).

Conclusion

The periodic system and the periodic table of elements are in the process of continuous development and improvement. At the end of the 1920s, there were four vacancies in the periodic table composed of elements 1 to 92, including 43, 61, 85 and 87. In the following decades, through continuous exploration and discovery, people have filled and developed the periodic system and periodic table of elements one after another.

In 2018, the periodic table of elements translated and released by the Chinese Chemical Society according to the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) (IUPAC) already contains 118 elements. However, among the 118 elements that have been discovered or synthesized, the atomic weight and atomic structure of some elements are still inconclusive, and human exploration of the unknown is still in progress.

The above classification method of non-ferrous metal varieties is also based on the previous research results at the present stage, under the comprehensive consideration of the unique properties of elements, as well as the application practice and past experience of the non-ferrous metal industry, under the principle of easy classification and clear identification, the proposed division method. The accuracy and rationality of the division still need to be constantly discussed and improved by scientific research, production and other workers in the non-ferrous metals industry. The inadequacies of the article, but also invite the majority of friends in the industry to criticize and correct.

Hope that through the continuous efforts of people in the non-ferrous metal industry to explore, for the transformation and development of the motherland's non-ferrous metal industry, quality improvement and innovation, to contribute their own strength.