GHEANNE VIENICE PAJAR

GENERAL CHEMISTRY 2

11 – GOLD

GROUP 5

GMRC: GOOD METALS AND RIGHT CONDUCT

Egg Fried Rice? So you’re telling me that an egg fried this rice? Just kidding, I did. With
this PAN-tastic… well, pan, that I own. How is this plate-like metal able to fry my rice? Is it
magic? Is it rocket science? No, it’s just elementary stuff. Just heat. This pan is a vessel for the
heat to pass through and to the food, cooking it. Dough-not be afraid, this is just a process of
cooking via conduction.

Transferring energy through direct contact is called conduction. By heating up the stove,
and placing the pan with the food on top of it, the pan conducts the heat to the food that it’s
touching. Conduction is also used to transfer electricity too. Every metal is capable of
conduction, however, some metals are more effective than others. For example, we have silver,
copper, and aluminum, which are some of the most widely-used conductors out there. And can
you believe diamonds are also able to conduct energy? It just does an extremely poor job at
conducting electricity, but, it is a good conductor of heat.

The crystals in these metals are formed through a process called “solidification”. When a
metal is still in its molten or liquid state, the atoms that makes up the metal are free to move
around. Then, during its solidification, these atoms arrange themselves in an ordered structure,
making up what we call a crystalline lattice. The presence of a crystalline lattice greatly
contributes to the metal’s attributes, especially in the aspect of conductivity. Without the
crystalline lattice, metals are unable to exhibit their conductivity characteristics.

1
 As we now have learned, metals are used for our everyday errands. Power lines,
appliances, wirings, and all that. There are handful of benefits to it, and a fair share of harms to it
as well– as nothing in this world is truly safe. Metals aren’t only what you see as solid, they are
also elements. Some metals offer nutrients, essential to our health. For example, iron is necessary
for oxygen to transfer blood. These metals are also used for appliances, as mentioned earlier,
medical devices, and purification systems too. Moving on, metals are also a risk to one’s health.
Exposure to certain metals at high levels can be toxic for us humans. Mercury is a well-known
toxic metal that can cause health problems if exposed to for a long time.

Overall, metals do play essential roles in our day-to-day lives, and it is very helpful in
making our mundane tasks easier. From cooking, to industrial uses, up to health, metals are truly
useful. It may be useful, but keep in mind that some of these materials are still harmful to us. In
that note, it is crucial that we learn to manage our exposure to metals so that we can maximize
our use of metals for our activities whilst minimizing any damage done to our health. Usage of
metals is widely promoted, as we have advanced in technology so much that we’ve learned how
to use these metals wisely and effectively. Now, a lot of metals that we use are deemed safe.
Though, it is still advised to follow the safety instructions for us to not be put at whisk, get it?
“May the fork be with you.” Says Obi-Wan Kenobi as he holds his alloy lightsaber hilt.

2
 REFERENCES

Gorski, V. (2019, March 2). What metals make good conductors of electricity?. Sciencing.
https://sciencing.com/metals-make-good-conductors-electricity-8115694.html

Staff, C. (2018, April 16). The crystalline structure of metals. Corrosionpedia.

https://www.corrosionpedia.com/the-crystalline-structures-of-metals/2/6732

Cartagenas, I. (2022, February 3). Heat transfer through conduction. Thermtest.

https://thermtest.com/heat-transfer-through-conduction-examples-in-everyday-life

Traylor, R. (n.d.). The relationship between heat transfer and cooking. WebstaurantStore.
https://www.webstaurantstore.com/blog/4340/types-of-heat-transfer-in-cooking.html

Rafferty, J. P. (2022, April 15). Why Are Some Metals More Conductive than Others?.
Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/story/why-are-some-metals-more-
conductive-than-others

Cope, L., & Cope, L. (2022, October 24). Advantages and disadvantages of metal. Engineer Fix.
https://engineerfix.com/mechanical/metal/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-metal/