Chemistry - Recycling of Metals

a.     What will happen to the world if there are no more metals?

            Metals play an important part in modern societies and have historically been linked with industrial development and improved living standards. Each metal has its especial uses and very important in our life.

For example:

-Copper and aluminium wire are used to carry electric current.

-Copper, aluminium and iron are used to make domestic utensils and factory equipment.

-Thin foils of aluminium are used for wrapping cigarettes, medicines, confectionery, etc.

-Aluminium is used for making angles, doors, pipes, etc. which are used in the construction of houses.

-Metals such as sodium, titanium, zirconium, etc. are used in generation of nuclear energy and in space science projects.

-Mercury is used in thermometers.

-Magnesium metal is used as a strong reducing agent to prepare other metals.

-Gold and silver metals are used to make jewellery.

-Thin foils of silver and gold are used to decorate sweets.

-Uranium metal is used to generate nuclear energy.

-Titanium metal is very hard, resistant to corrosion, light, has high melting point and is good conductor of heat and electricity. Because of its unique and useful properties titanium is sometimes called ‘the wonder metal’.

…

We can see so many uses of metals so without metals, it would be difficulty in making things that we are using. There will be no more domestic utensils, factory equipment, medicines, furniture, appliances, tools…

b.     Is it important to recycle metal?

Yes, it is.

c.      Thus what are the reasons to recycling metals? Isn’t it easier to obtain metals through its original from through extraction of metals?

    

Reasons to recycling metals:

-It is easy and cost-effective to recycle metal, and metal can be recycled continuously without losing its properties.

-When it is easy to do, human should recycle rather than to continually deplete the earth’s natural resources.

-It saves the Earth.

-It saves Energy. Recycling used materials reduces energy requirements in many manufacturing processes such as refining and mining. Recycling materials like aluminum and glass can greatly reduce the pressure on energy resources.

-It helps extend the life and usefulness of something that has already served its initial purpose by producing something that is useable.

-It saves Money. With the reduction in costs to re-manufacture used metal through recycling, there is even more money to be made across the board. This impact that metal recycling has, not only helps protect the environment and protects our natural resources for generations to come, but creates in the hundred thousands of jobs across the world.

Some of the effects Recycling of metals has on the environment.

- The environment is not a single thing - conservation of resources, energy, air and

water pollution, and psychological and political aspects are often competitive, and what may help in one area may be harmful in another

-As lot of debris is collected everyday for recycling, and so the recovery sites can become unhygienic. Abandoned dump sites can severely damage the surrounding environment. Harmful chemicals in the trash, can mix into water and soil. This can cause water and soil pollution and harm plants and fish in the streams and lakes.

-In addition to conserving energy resources, metals recycling also reduces mining and beneficiation activities that disturb ecosystems.  Though land used for the extraction of primary metals represents under 0.1% of Earth’s terrestrial surface, exploration and mining activity can affect surrounding ecosystems due to necessary infrastructure and by dispersing metal compounds into the environment.

d.     Think of reactive ways that we can also play a part in recycling metals?

For some metals you do not use anymore, we can modify it and create it to be another thing we can use. For example: if we don’t use the cans anymore, we can cut the cover, decorate the outside. Put in woodland and then planting by seed. Or the steel we can stick them and then bent it, create it to decorate. 


References:

http://www.preservearticles.com/201101022304/uses-of-metals-as-pure-metals.html
http://www.benefits-of-recycling.com/recyclingmetals.html
http://www.benefits-of-recycling.com/whyisrecyclingimportant.html
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http://www.zerowastesg.com/2008/12/08/metal-recycling/
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http://www.buzzle.com/articles/positive-and-negative-effects-of-recycling.html