epäjalometallit

Epäjalometallit, or base metals in English, is a term used in chemistry and metallurgy to distinguish a group of metals from precious metals. Unlike precious metals like gold, silver, and platinum, base metals are more common, less expensive, and tend to tarnish or corrode more readily when exposed to air or moisture. This reactivity is a defining characteristic of base metals.

The most common base metals include iron, copper, lead, zinc, and tin. These metals have played a crucial role in the development of human civilization, from the Bronze Age (an alloy primarily of copper and tin) to the Iron Age. Their widespread availability and relative ease of extraction and processing have made them fundamental to industrial applications, construction, and manufacturing.

Iron is perhaps the most significant base metal, forming the backbone of modern infrastructure through steel production. Copper is vital for electrical wiring due to its excellent conductivity and is also used in plumbing and various alloys like brass. Lead, although toxic, has been used in batteries, solders, and historically in pipes. Zinc is commonly used for galvanizing steel to prevent corrosion and is also found in alloys like brass. Tin is used in solders, plating for food cans, and in alloys like bronze and pewter.

The distinction between "base" and "precious" is not strictly defined by atomic properties alone but also by economic and historical factors. While base metals are generally reactive, some, like titanium, exhibit high resistance to corrosion despite being considered a base metal. Their lower market value compared to precious metals is a primary differentiator in common usage.