From Magnetic to Bioactive Materials

Several of these topics are picked up again in the following chapters: Hydrogen: energy source; helium: low-temperature refrigerant; ballon gas, lithium: anode materials for lithium-ion batteries; beryllium: hardening component for light-weight alloys, non-spark alloys, X-ray windows; boron: hardening component for intermetallics; carbon: electrode materials, black pigment; nitrogen: source for ammonia and nitrate fertilizers, protective gas, low-temperature cooling; oxygen: medical gas, liquid oxygen for the Linz-Donauwitzer process in steel refinement; fluorine: uranium hexafluoride production; neon: helium-neon lasers; sodium: reducing agent; magnesium: alloying component and sacrificial anodes; aluminum: lightweight alloys, construction material; silicon: semiconductors; phosphorus: synthesis of phosphoric acid; matches; sulfur: vulcanization of rubber; chlorine: disinfection of water; argon: protective gas in chemical synthesis and arc-welding; potassium: liquid sodium-potassium alloys as coolants in nuclear reactors; calcium: reducing agent in metallurgy; scandium: additive for aluminum-based alloys, component of electron emitters; titanium: steel additive, corrosion resistant alloys; vanadium: high-speed tool steels; chromium: stainless steel and chromium plating; manganese: ferromanganese, activator in LED phosphors; iron: steel and cast iron; cobalt: superalloys and samarium-cobalt magnets; nickel: catalysis and anti-corrosion coatings; copper: cables and water tubes; zinc: facade cladding, corrosion protection; gallium: gallium nitride, phosphide or arsenide semiconductors; germanium: semiconductors and detection technology; arsenic: doping of semiconductors; selenium: II-VI semiconductors and alloy additive for free cutting steel; bromine: special disinfection products and synthesis of flame retardants; krypton: excimer lasers, KrCl excimer discharge lamps. The reader might notice that transition metals and lanthanides are not even mentioned here;…