Uses of Elements

Elements are the purest form of matter. Each of them possess some unique properties that make them crucial in our daily lives. From the oxygen needed to survive to the silicon in our electronics, elements play a very crucial role in shaping the world. The way we live our daily lives, whether it is the electrifying strength of electricity or the beauty of gold, elements are everywhere essential. Let’s now learn how various elements are used in our daily lives.

What are Uses of Elements in Real Life

Elements are the matter that are composed entirely of only one kind of atoms. There are the building block of chemistry. In total they are 118 elements in the periodic table. It is beyond the scope of this article to discuss the uses of all these elements, however we will cover uses of few commonly used elements.

Hydrogen

Hydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe. It has very high potential as a clean and sustainable energy source.

• Fuel Cell for Clean Transportation: Fuel cells are one of the main applications for hydrogen and these cells power vehicles, offering a green alternative to fossil fuels.
• Medical Industry: In the medical industry, hydrogen is used to create hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), a commonly used antiseptic.
• Feedstock in Chemical Manufacturing: In the chemical industry it is used to make ammonia for agricultural fertilizer (the Haber process) and cyclohexane and methanol, which are intermediates in the production of plastics and pharmaceuticals.
• Food: Hydrogen is used to turn unsaturated fats into saturated oils and fats, including hydrogenated vegetable oils like margarine and butter spreads.

Carbon

Carbon is popularly known for its versatility, as it plays an important role in living beings and various industrial applications:

• Building block for chemical industry: Carbon is used as a raw material for the petrochemical industries producing polymers, fibres, paints, solvents and plastics, etc.
• Hydrocarbon Chain Formation: Carbon is unique among the elements in its ability to form strongly bonded chains, using hydrogen atoms. These hydrocarbons are extracted naturally as fossil fuels (coal, oil and natural gas) and are mostly used as fuels.
• Lightweight Carbon Composites: Carbon fiber is used as a very strong and lightweight material which is currently used in tennis rackets, skis, fishing rods, rockets and airplanes.
• Multiple forms: Carbon exists in multiple forms known as allotropes such as Graphite, Diamond, Fullerenes and Carbon nanotubes, each of them have their unique properties and wide variety of applications.

Nitrogen

Nitrogen is the major component in the atmospheric gas composition. The uses of nitrogen are mentioned below:

• Food Packaging and Preservation: Nitrogen is widely used in the food industry to package and preserve perishable foods.
• Liquid Nitrogen for Freezing: Liquid nitrogen, which is extremely cold (boiling point of -196°C), is used for quick freezing and cryopreservation of biological samples
• Nitrogen for Tire Inflation: Nitrogen is increasingly being used to inflate vehicle tires instead of compressed air.

Oxygen

Oxygen makes up 21% of the atmosphere by volume and is vital for life on earth.

• Respiration and Combustion: Oxygen is the essential gas for respiration and combustion.
• Medical Oxygen Therapy: Oxygen therapy is used in medicine to support people who are having trouble breathing and to treat respiratory conditions.
• Water Purification: Oxygen also plays a crucial role in water treatment processes, where it helps in purifying drinking water by eliminating contaminants and pathogens and hence ensuring public health and safety.
• Manufacturing: Oxygen is used in the production of steel, plastics, and textiles.

Aluminium

Aluminium is a silvery-white, lightweight metal. It is soft and malleable.

• Food and Beverage Cans: Aluminium is strong and lightweight and protects food and beverages from getting spoiled..
• Electrical Wiring: Aluminium conducts electricity well and is lighter than copper, making it suitable for some electrical wires.
• Aircraft Bodies: As Aluminium is lightweight and strong, it is ideal for building airplanes in order to save fuel and improve the efficiency.
• Cookware: Aluminium conducts heat very well and also relatively inexpensive, hence making it a popular choice for pots and pans.

Silicon

Silicon is a semiconductor element which helps in powering the digital revolution.

• Photovoltaic Cells: Silicon is widely used in manufacturing photovoltaic cell which convert solar energy into electrical energy
• Electronic Devices: Silicon has semiconducting property. Hence, it is very important to the electronics sector and serves as the main component of computer chips and are the basis for digital gadgets like tablets, computers, and smartphones.
• Alloys: Silicon metal is also used in Aluminium alloying industry, which provides good casting properties for lightweight and corrosion resistant components.

Phosphorous

Phosphorus is a non-metal element. It has several important applications in daily life. Some common uses of phosphorus include:

• Fertilizers: Phosphorus is a crucial component of fertilizers, particularly in the form of phosphates (such as calcium phosphate and ammonium phosphate).
• Detergents and Cleaners: Phosphorus compounds, such as sodium tripolyphosphate (STPP), are used in detergents and household cleaners
• Safety Matches: Phosphorus is a key ingredient in the striking surface of matches, where it reacts with potassium chlorate to ignite the matchstick when struck against a rough surface.

Calcium

Calcium is an silvery-white, soft alkaline earth metal with the symbol Ca.

• Strong Bones and Teeth: The development and maintenance of strong teeth and bones depend on the mineral calcium.
• Muscle Function: Calcium is essential for both the contraction and relaxation of muscles, which enables healthy movement.
• Nerve Impulse Transmission: Calcium facilitates nerve signal transmission, allowing the body to communicate with itself.
• Blood Clotting: In order to stop excessive bleeding after an injury, blood clotting requires calcium.
• Cement and Construction Materials: Calcium compounds, particularly calcium carbonate and calcium hydroxide, are key ingredients in the production of cement, concrete, and construction materials.

Iron

Iron is one of the most abundant elements on Earth and it also rusts easily, yet it is the most important of all metals.

• Vehicles and Infrastructure: Iron is also a primary element used in steel(which is an alloy of iron and carbon) production and act as a backbone of modern infrastructure(buildings and bridges) and also used in construction, machinery, and transportation due to its durability and malleability.
• In agriculture: Iron is a micro-nutrient in plants having a diverse role in their physiology and is used in agriculture to maintain the proper growth of plants.
• Oxygen Transport in Haemoglobin: The average human contains about 4 grams of iron and is majorly present in haemoglobin in the blood which carries oxygen from our lungs to the cells, where it is needed for tissue respiration.
• Kitchen as Cookware: Cast Iron is used to make stoves which can be heated with coal or wood and also used to make frying pans. The spoons, forks and plates are made of stainless steel.
• Magnetic Technologies: Iron has magnetic properties which has applications in electromagnetism, telecommunications, and transportation, denoting its crucial role in the modern society

Copper

Copper is a soft, malleable, and ductile metal with the symbol Cu. The real life applications of copper are mentioned below:

• Electrical Wiring: The majority of electrical lines in houses and buildings are made of copper since it is a superior electrical conductor.
• Plumbing Pipes: Copper pipes are perfect for transporting water since they are strong, resistant to corrosion, and don’t absorb dangerous substances.
• Heating and Cooling Systems: Copper is a useful material for pipes in heating and air conditioning systems since it conducts heat easily.
• Cooking Utensils: Professional cooks prefer copper cookware because it uniformly distributes heat.
• Antibacterial Surfaces: Surfaces such as countertops and doorknobs can be less likely to harbor bacteria due to copper’s inherent antibacterial qualities.

Gold

Gold is a precious metal known for its beauty, rarity, and malleability, has various uses in daily life. The daily life uses of gold are mentioned below:

• Jewelry and Ornaments: Gold is most commonly associated with jewelry due to its attractive appearance, durability, and resistance to tarnishing.
• Electronics and Technology: Gold is an excellent conductor of electricity and is used in electronic devices and components, such as circuit boards, connectors, and contacts.
• Dentistry: Gold alloys are commonly used in dental restorations, such as crowns, bridges, and fillings.

Silver

Silver is a precious metal with a range of desirable properties, has numerous practical applications in daily life. The uses of silver is mentioned below:

• Jewelry and Ornaments: Silver is widely used in the production of jewelry and decorative items due to its lustrous appearance, durability, and affordability.
• Water Purification and Treatment: Silver nanoparticles are used in water purification systems and disinfection products to kill bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms.
• Solar Energy: Silver is used in photovoltaic cells and solar panels to create electrical contacts and conductors for capturing and converting sunlight into electricity.

FAQs on Applications of Elements

What are uses of chlorine?

Chlorine is widely used in water disinfection, as bleaching agent, swimming pool treatment.

What are uses of Helium?

Helium is used in lifting hot air balloons, in mixing with oxygen for deep sea diving, as cryogenic coolant etc.

What are uses of potassium?

Potassium is used in fertilizer, as food additive, laboratory reagents for preparing compounds such as potassium permanganate etc.

What are applications of sulphur?

Sulphur is used as fertilizer, to prepare chemical reagents such as sulphuric acid, in rubber industry for vulcanization

What are applications of zinc?

Zinc is used for coating steel and iron products, as anode in battery, as nutritional supplements etc.

What are applications of argon?

Argon is used in welding, metal processing and heat treatment, for packaging of foods etc.

What are applications of neon?

Neon is used in signboard for lighting, in vacuum tubes, in laser etc.