MINOR METALS

A  divalent  element, beryllium is found naturally only combined with other elements in minerals. Notable gemstones which contain beryllium include  beryl  ( aquamarine ,  emerald ) and  chrysoberyl . The free element is a steel-gray, strong, lightweight brittle  alkaline earth metal . It is primarily used as a hardening agent in  alloys , notably  beryllium copper . Structurally, beryllium's very low density (1.85 times that of water), high melting point (1287 °C), high temperature stability and low coefficient of thermal expansion, make it in many ways an ideal aerospace material, and it has been used in rocket nozzles and is a significant component of planned space telescopes. Detailed description Because of its relatively high transparency to X-rays and other  ionizing radiation  types, beryllium also has a number of uses as filters and windows for radiation and particle physics experiments. Commercial use of beryllium m...

Arsenic  (   / ˈ ɑr s ə n ɪ k /   ARS - ə -nik , also  / ɑr ˈ s ɛ n ɪ k /   ar- SEN -ik  when attributive) is the  chemical element  that has the symbol  As ,  atomic number  33 and  relative atomic mass  74.92. Arsenic was first documented by  Albertus Magnus  in 1250. [4]  Arsenic is a notoriously poisonous  metalloid . It can exist in various  allotropes , although only the grey form is important in a technical sense. Arsenic occurs in many minerals, mainly associated with sulfur and metals. Arsenic and its compounds, especially the trioxide, are mainly used in the production of  pesticides ,  herbicides ,  insecticides , but these applications are declining. [5]  Arsenic is also a common n-type  dopant  in  semiconductor  electronic devices. The occurrence of arsenic in drinking water is problematic in some parts of the world. Detailed distribution ...

Antimony  (pronounced  /ˈæntɨmɵnɪ/   AN-ti-mo-nee ); [note 2]   Latin :  stibium ) is a  chemical element  with the symbol  Sb  and an  atomic number  of 51. It has two stable isotopes, one with seventy neutrons, the other with seventy-two. A silvery lustrous grey  metalloid , it is found mainly as antimony sulfide, commonly known as  stibnite . Elemental antimony has applications in  electronics  and as an alloy with other metals it is used for  small arms  ammunition. Detailed descriptin: Etymology The ancient words for antimony mostly have, as their chief meaning,  kohl , the sulfide of antimony.  Pliny the Elder , however, distinguishes between male and female forms of antimony; his male form is probably the sulfide, while the female form, which is superior, heavier, and less friable, is probably native metallic antimony. History Antimony's sulfide compound,  antimony(III)...

Zircon   ( pronunciation:   /ˈzɜːrkɒn/ [5] [6]   or   /ˈzɜːrkən/ ; [7] ) is a   mineral   belonging to the group of   nesosilicates . Its chemical name is   zirconium silicate   and its corresponding chemical formula is   Zr SiO 4 . A common empirical formula showing some of the range of substitution in zircon is (Zr 1–y ,   REE y )(SiO 4 ) 1–x (OH) 4x–y . Zircon forms in silicate melts with large proportions of   high field strength incompatible elements . For example,   hafnium   is almost always present in quantities ranging from 1 to 4%. The crystal structure of zircon is   tetragonal   crystal system .   Detailed description The natural color of zircon varies between colorless, yellow-golden, red, brown, blue, and green. Colorless specimens that show gem quality are a popular substitute for   diamond   and are also known as "Matura diamond". The name derives from the   Persia...