Page 201 - DK Children's Encyclopedia

Precious metals SEE ALSO

▸ ▸ Aircraft p.13
▸ ▸ Elements p.90
Precious metals are rare and worth a lot of money. They are ▸ ▸ Metals p.162
found in the ground as pure metal or combined with other ▸ ▸ Money p.169

elements in rocks. Silver and gold are the best known and ▸ ▸ Gold pp.200–201
have been treasured for thousands of years. Other precious ▸ ▸ Rocks and
metals include platinum and beryllium. minerals p.214

Gold The highest quality Silver
Pure gold is a very soft metal. flutes are made of This precious metal,
To make it harder—so that we solid silver. along with gold and
can make useful objects out of mercury, has been
it—we combine gold with small used by humans since
amounts of other metals. prehistoric times.

A mobile phone
contains just a tiny Silver is used
amount of gold—about This ancient in many of today’s
0.001 oz (0.025 g). Egyptian burial batteries.
Gold mask is covered
earrings in gold foil. Cutlery

DVD

The most
valuable coins
have always been
made of gold.
Mirror
Platinum
Pieces of jewelry bar
are often made
Catalytic converters from platinum.
in cars contain
platinum. It makes
exhaust fumes
less poisonous. Beryllium
Beryllium is a steel-gray precious metal.
It is a vital component of computers,
Platinum cars, aircraft, phones,
Just a few hundred tons of Platinum is used in Watch medical equipment,
platinum are produced each year. pacemakers. These and many other
hi-tech gadgets.
Because it is so rare, it is used in devices can keep a Fighter aircraft
person’s heart beating.
very small amounts.
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