Metals are useful substances. They can be used to make various useful and valuable items. Usually, metals are refined from underground ore. Ore is a type of rock that contains enough metal for it to be mined. 

For example, copper ore can used to make copper (Cu), whereas iron ore can be used to make iron (Fe). Some metals, such as gold (Au), can also be found as small flakes in nature. The picture on the right shows a chunk of magnetite, which is a type of iron ore. 

Plastics have replaced metals as the raw materials for many functional items. However, metals are still useful when creating things that need to be extremely durable (e.g. machinery and vehicles), conduct heat well (e.g. pots and pans), or conduct electricity easily (e.g. electric wires). 

Metals can also be melted and reused. Metals can also be blended together to create new kinds of materials. For example, brass can be made by mixing copper and zinc. Brass is used in various instruments, such as cymbals (pictured below).

Cooking pots and pans are still mostly made from metal. Metal conducts heat well. Nowadays, most pots and pans are made from stainless steel, which is made by blending various metals together. 


Image on the left: A cymbal made from brass. Image on the right: Cooking pots are made from metals, because metals conduct heat very well. 

Most electric conductors are also made from metals, as they conduct electricity easily. Most electric wires contain at least two conductors. The electric wire below contains three copper wires. In computers and smartphones, the conductors can be made out of even rarer metals, such as gold. The thick conductors found in power lines are made out of aluminum, as it is a light and durable metal.

This electric wire contains three conductor wires made out of copper.


Tools, or at least their functional parts, are made from metals. Usually, they are made from steel. Steel is a mixture of metals that mostly consists of iron (Fe).

By adding other metals and elements to the mixture, the resulting material is durable and hard.