Precious and non-precious metals have physical and chemical characteristics that influence their use in various fields. Among the main parameters are density, magnetic susceptibility, the speed of sound in the metal and electrical conductivity.
Legend and description of parameters
| Pt Platinum Platinum | Au Aurum Gold | W Wolframium Tungsten | Pd Palladium Palladium | Pb Plumbum Lead | Ag Argentum Silver |
| Cu Cuprum Copper | Ni Niccolum Nickel | Fe Ferrum Iron | Zn Zincum Zinc | Al Aluminium Aluminium |
- Density is the amount of mass per unit volume. It depends on the arrangement of atoms in the crystal lattice and their atomic mass.
- Speed of sound represents the speed with which a sound wave propagates through the material. It depends on its elastic rigidity and density: the more rigid and less dense materials tend to have a higher speed of sound.
- Electrical conductivity is the ability to allow the passage of electric current. It is influenced by the mobility of electrons and the crystalline structure. Materials with free or delocalized electrons have a high conductivity.
- Magnetic susceptibility is a measure of the response of a material to an external magnetic field. In paramagnetic materials it is positive, indicating a slight alignment (attraction) with the field, while in diamagnetic materials it is negative, indicating a slight opposition (repulsion) to the field.
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