Tin (Sn) is mostly found in cassiterite (SnO2) and has been known since ancient times. It is obtained by reducing the ore with coal in a reverberatory furnace.
Ancient Chinese and Hindus were familiar with mercury (Hg). The metal was also found in Egyptian tombs of 1500 BC. Mercury rarely occurs as such in nature.
Metallic zinc was produced in India by reducing calamine with organic substances like wool, in the 13th century A.D. Marggraf rediscovered zinc in 1746 and showed that metallic zinc could also be synthesized by reducing calamine with charcoal.
Platinum (Pt) was discovered by Ulloa in 1735 and Wood in 1741. Platinum occurs as such naturally, together with negligible amounts of palladium, iridium, rhodium, osmium, and ruthenium.
X-ray crystallography is a powerful non-destructive technique for determining the molecular structure of a crystal. X-ray crystallography uses the principles of X-ray diffraction to analyze a sample.
By Liam Critchley
2 Dec 2019
Diffractometers have been around for a long time and are used to analyze various types of materials and provide information regarding their structure.
By Liam Critchley
2 Dec 2019
Surface metrology is concerned with measuring small-scale features of a surface and is used across several industries. However, they have found the most use in precision engineering and precision machining applications.
By Liam Critchley
2 Dec 2019
XRF and LIBS analyzers have become viable for fast and reliable elemental identification and material verification thanks to their ease of use and convenience.
By Sarah Moore
20 Nov 2019
Silicon is synthesized commercially by heating carbon and silica in an electric furnace, using carbon electrodes.
Molybdenum disilicide (MoSi2), a refractory metal silicide, is mainly used as a heating element and has been recognized as a potential structural ceramic