ABSTRACT: of the 118 elements in periodic table, more than 80% are metallic. Whether all of these metals belong to the Non-ferrous metal, and how they should be divided, is a question that deserves some clarity. Non-ferrous metal and its alloys, as an important part of modern materials, play an important role in basic materials and strategic materials in the fields of national economy, People’s daily life, national defense industry, science and Technology Development, etc. . The study and exploration of Non-ferrous metal, like the understanding of nature, is a process from macroscopic to microscopic. As research continues to improve, the elements in the periodic table are constantly being measured, refined, and added. Currently, more than 80% of the 118 elements in the periodic table are metallic. Whether all of these metals belong to the Non-ferrous metal, and how they should be divided, is a question that deserves some clarity.

1) what is Non-ferrous metal? “Non-Ferrous metal”translates as “Nonferrous Metals”, which corresponds to “Ferrous Metals”in the English translation of “Ferrous”. “Ferrous Metals”literally translated as iron Metals, refers to the iron, Manganese, chromium three Metals collectively. “Nonferrous Metals”literally translates to non-ferrous Metals, that is, in addition to iron, manganese, chromium other than the metal collectively. The process of translating “Ferrous Metals”and “Nonferrous Metals”into “Ferrous”and “Non-Ferrous metal”is also an interesting story about the art of translation, according to an old man who has long worked in the Non-Ferrous metal industry. The earliest translation of “Ferrous Metals”and “Nonferrous Metals”scholars, feel that if the direct translation of “Iron Metals”and “Non-Ferrous Metals”, or “Ferrous Metals”and “Non-Ferrous Metals”, although taking into account the accuracy of the translation, but not concise, but also very difficult to use. So this scholar jumped out of the habitual thinking, from the optical properties of metal, carried out the re-creation in translation. Although pure iron is silver white, but in people’s daily work, life often see iron, but is black. This is because the surface of the iron is covered with a black oxide film: ferrosoferric oxide. It is also because of this oxide film, so that iron gives the impression of black, so from this point of view, “Ferrous Metals”was re-created to translate as “Ferrous. With “Ferrous”in mind, considering that silver is white, gold is gold, copper is yellow, and lead is gray, “Non-ferrous Metals”exhibit colorful optical properties, thus translating “Nonferrous Metals”into “Non-ferrous metal”. Since then, “Ferrous”and “Non-Ferrous metal”has become the Chinese “Ferrous Metals”and “Nonferrous Metals”in the industry spread. The definition of “Non-ferrous metal”in the section metal materials-Non-ferrous metal materials in Dacihai (volume of materials science) is “The general name of all metallic elements except iron, chromium and manganese in periodic table. Can Be divided into four categories: (1) heavy metals, including copper, lead, zinc, nickel, etc. ; (2) light metals, including aluminum, magnesium, titanium, etc. ; (3) precious metals, including gold, silver, platinum, etc. ; (4) rare metals, including tungsten, molybdenum, tantalum, niobium, thorium, beryllium, indium, Germanium, rare earth metals, etc. . As rare metals play an important role in modern industry, they are often separated from the Non-ferrous metal into a separate group. A metal that is less abundant, less widely distributed, more difficult to refine, and more recently applied in the Earth’s crust. Up to now, there is no uniform classification standard in the world. According to Chinese Convention, rare metals are generally divided into five categories: Rare light metals, rare high melting point metals, rare earth metals, rare dispersed metals and radioactive metals. Rare metals are new materials with excellent properties and special functions, and their applications generally include military technology applications, industrial applications, agricultural applications, tertiary sector of the economy applications and high-tech applications. A class of rare metals. Including Natural Radioactive Metals... and man-made radioactive elements...”according to the definition of “Non-ferrous metal”in the great words of the sea, all metals in the periodic table, except nonmetal and Ferrous of iron, chromium and manganese, are Non-ferrous metal. The English translation of “Non-ferrous metal”, “Nonferrous Metals”, is also consistent with the definition in “The Sea of words”. Therefore, the accurate definition of “Non-ferrous metal”should be: in the periodic table except for iron, chromium, manganese all the metal elements.

2) the origin of the existing division of 64 Non-ferrous metal. The most widespread and common statement is that in 1958, China classified the three metals of iron, chromium and manganese as Ferrous, and 64 metals other than iron, chromium and manganese as Non-ferrous metal. According to the 1997 book sixty four nonferrous metals, edited by Wang Yishui, Wang Zhixiong, and Shen Jianzhong, published by Central South University, Sixty Four Non-ferrous metal are: aluminum, magnesium, potassium, sodium, calcium, strontium, Barium, copper, lead, zinc, tin, cobalt, nickel, antimony, mercury, cadmium, bismuth, gold, silver, platinum, ruthenium, Rhodium, palladium, osmium, iridium, beryllium, rubidium, cesium, titanium, zirconium, Hafnium, tantalum, Samarium, gallium, indium, gallium, Germanium, rhenium, cerium, praseodymium, neodymium, Europium, terbium, dysprosium, copper, Ho, Erbium, ybium, lutetium, thium, thorium, silicon, Boron, selenium, thallium, arsenic. This method is the most widely used of the 64 Non-ferrous metal. In 1958, China designated 64 species of Non-ferrous metal, although the specific source is not yet verified. However, Mr. Fei Ziwen in “Personnel have metabolism, exchanges into the past and present-deep condolences to Comrade Qiu Chunfu and other old comrades of the former head office,”an article mentioned: “Comrade Qiu Chunfu... from 1956 to 1969 served as a member of the party group and Director of the General Office of the Ministry of Metallurgy, in charge of the daily work of the Non-ferrous metal. During this period, he presided over the preparation of a report to the Party Central Committee and Chairman Mao entitled striving for a leap in Non-ferrous metal production and occupying all areas of the Non-ferrous metal. Sentence is too long, please supply a shorter sentence. The jet aircraft and missiles of the atomic, electronic and defense industries could not have been built and developed without Non-ferrous metal (especially rare metals) . Production of the Non-ferrous metal must be increased at a faster rate than in other sectors. In the second five year plan, the Non-ferrous metal increased more than threefold so that it could gradually catch up with the rest of the country’s industrial level... the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China approved the plan and Measures on Non-ferrous metal put forward by the”from the above written text, it can be discerned that the division of the 64 Non-ferrous metal in 1958 may have originated from the report Non-ferrous metal, striving for a leap in Non-ferrous metal production and occupying all fields.

3) problems with the existing 64 Non-ferrous metal classification, which is described in the book 64 Non Ferrous Metals and is now widely distributed, there are still some issues worth discussing, said Non-ferrous metal, director of the Non-ferrous metal. 1. Of all the naturally occurring radioactive elements, why is thorium the only Non-ferrous metal? In the preface to the sixty-four non-ferrous metals, an introduction to the classification of the sixty-four Non-ferrous metal is given. “Uranium, polonium, thorium, radium, actinium, protactinium”is listed as six natural radioactive metals, belonging to 51 rare metals, distinguished from 13 common Non-ferrous metal, including 64 Non-ferrous metal. The 64 Non-ferrous metal in the introduction are different from the 64 Non-ferrous metal in the book. The five quasi-metals, namely, silicon, Boron, selenium, tellurium and arsenic, are replaced by five natural radioactive metals, namely, uranium, polonium, radium, actinium and protactinium. From the definition of “Non-ferrous metal”, not only “Thorium”, including “Uranium, polonium, radium, actinium, protactinium”and all the radioactive metals are Non-ferrous metal. As a result, there are far more than 64 Non-ferrous metal species. 2. Why is “Promethium”the only rare earth metal not a Non-ferrous metal? In the sixty-four non-ferrous metals book, the element “Promethium”is not among the sixty-four Non-ferrous metal. But in Dacihai, rare earth metals are defined as: “The combination of Lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, neodymium, Samarium, Europium, Gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, holmium, lutetium, ytterbium, ytterbium and 17 metallic elements in the Lanthanum, ytterium and lanthanide metals...”since “Rare earth metals”are “Rare metals”and “Rare metals”are “Non-ferrous metal”, “Promethium”metals”should also be Non-ferrous metal. 3. IS PARA-METAL A Non-ferrous metal? The definition of “Quasi-metal”in the great words of the sea is: “A group of elements which have metallic features on the surface, but represent both metallic and non-metallic chemical property elements. Such as Boron, silicon, Germanium, arsenic, antimony, tellurium, etc. . Some of these elements or their compounds have semiconducting properties. Some of their oxides are soluble in both acids and alkalis.”In the definition of “Metal”it is said that”... It is sometimes difficult to distinguish between a few metals and non-metals. Some elements can be classified by their nature as metals or non-metals (such as Boron, arsenic, antimony, selenium, tellurium, etc.) , sometimes also referred to as ‘quasi-metals’... “According to the above definition, the five quasi-metallic elements of ‘silicon, Boron, selenium, tellurium, arsenic’can be classified as metals and are classified as Non-ferrous metal. To sum up, the existing 64 Non-ferrous metal methods have some shortcomings, but they do not cover all Non-ferrous metal.

4) there are many kinds of Non-ferrous metal, and the properties of each metal are complex. In the Non-ferrous metal, the same metal can belong to different subclasses because of different definitions. Internationally, there is no uniform standard for the classification of rare metals. However, according to the relevant definitions in da Ci Hai and the practice of our country, combined with the outstanding characteristics of each metal variety and the practical application of the industry, on the basis of avoiding repeated division, the following division can be made for discussion. 1. Light nonferrous metals (8 kinds) aluminum, magnesium, calcium, sodium, titanium, potassium, strontium, Barium. “Light Metal”is defined as “Metal with a relative density of less than 5. Can Be divided into non-ferrous light metals and rare light metals. The former includes aluminum, magnesium, calcium, sodium, titanium, potassium, strontium, the latter includes lithium, beryllium, rubidium, cesium, etc. . According to the definition of “Light metal”and the practice and application of the Non-ferrous metal industry, the eight metals, namely aluminum, magnesium, calcium, sodium, titanium, potassium, strontium and Barium, are classified as “Light nonferrous metals”. 2. Non-ferrous heavy metals (10 kinds) copper, cobalt, nickel, lead, zinc, cadmium, bismuth, tin, antimony, Mercury. In Dacihai, “Heavy metals”is defined as “Metals with a relative density greater than 5. Such as copper, cobalt, nickel, lead, zinc, cadmium, bismuth, tin, antimony, mercury, niobium, tantalum, tungsten, molybdenum...”according to this definition, all metals can be divided into two categories: heavy metals and light metals. However, although the relative density of Niobium, tantalum, tungsten and Molybdenum is higher than 5, they are classified as heavy metals. However, considering the characteristics of rare and refractory metals, niobium, tantalum, tungsten and Molybdenum can be further classified. Therefore, referring to “Non-ferrous light metals”and “Rare light metals”in the definition of “Light metals”, 10 metals, namely copper, cobalt, nickel, lead, zinc, cadmium, bismuth, tin, antimony and Mercury, are classified as “Non-ferrous heavy metals”to distinguish them from other heavy metals. 3. Precious Metals (8 kinds) gold, silver, platinum, ruthenium, Rhodium, palladium, osmium, iridium. In the great words of the sea, “Precious metals”are defined as “A class of Non-ferrous metal. In the Earth’s crust, it is thought to be the most precious metal, hence the name. Including gold, silver and platinum metals. Most of them have strong chemical stability and good ductility. According to this definition, gold, silver, platinum, ruthenium, Rhodium, palladium, osmium, iridium are classified as “Precious metals”. 4. Rare light metals (4 species) lithium, beryllium, rubidium, cesium. According to the definition of “Light metals”in the great words of the sea, “Rare light metals”are divided into four kinds of metals: Lithium, beryllium, rubidium and cesium. 5. Rare refractory metals (8 kinds) tungsten, molybdenum, tantalum, niobium, vanadium, zirconium, rhenium, Hafnium. The definition of “Rare high melting point metal”in great words sea is: “Rare metal whose melting point is higher than that of iron (1535 °C) . It includes platinum, Osmium, iridium, ruthenium, Rhodium and Palladium in groups 4-6(group IVB, VB, VIB) , metallic rhenium and precious metals... “Considering platinum, osmium, iridium, ruthenium, Rhodium and Palladium, it has been classified as a “Precious metal”according to its characteristics. Referring to the classification of “Light metals”and “Heavy metals”, “Nonferrous light metals”, “Rare light metals”and “Nonferrous heavy metals”, the eight metals, namely tungsten, molybdenum, tantalum, niobium, vanadium, zirconium, rhenium and Hafnium, are classified as “Rare refractory metals”. 6. Rare dispersed metals (4 kinds) : Germanium, gallium, indium, thallium. In the great words of the sea, “Rare dispersed metals”is defined as: “Also known as ‘scattered metals’. A metal that does not form an independent deposit in nature but is dispersed as an impurity in other minerals. It’s a class of rare metals. Includes Germanium, gallium, indium, thallium, Hafnium, rhenium and other metals...”according to this definition, Hafnium and rhenium are also “Rare dispersed metals”. However, Hafnium and rhenium are classified according to their properties as “Rare refractory metals”. In order to avoid repeated division, and combined with the actual industry, will only Germanium, gallium, indium, thallium 4 kinds of metals, included in the “Rare dispersed metals.”. Kill. Rare Earth metals (17 species) Lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, neodymium, promethium, Samarium, Europium; Gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, holmium, Erbium, thulium, ytterbium, lutetium, scandium, yttrium. (1) light rare Earth Metals (7) La, CE, PR, ND, PM, SM, EU. (2) heavy rare earth metals (10 kinds) Gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, holmium, Erbium, thulium, ytterbium, lutetium, scandium and yttrium. The definition of “Rare Earth metals”in great ci Hai is as follows: “There are 17 kinds of metal elements in scandium, yttrium and lanthanides: Lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, neodymium, promethium, Samarium, Europium, Gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, holmium, erbium, ytterium and lutetium. From lanthanum to Europium ‘light rare earth metals’, from Gadolinium to yttrium and yttrium to yttrium ‘heavy rare earth metals’...”by definition, 17 metals are classified as ‘Rare Earth Metals’: Gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, dysprosium, Erbium, Erbium, lutetium, Lutetium, yttrium and Yttrium; and seven metals are classified as ‘light rare earth metals’, and 10 metals are classified as ‘heavy rare earth metals’. 8. Quasi-metals (5 kinds) Boron, silicon, arsenic, selenium, tellurium. See Question 3 in Section III for the basis for the classification. 9. There are 32 kinds of radioactive metals: technetium, polonium, Francium, radium, urium, Duhurium, Hassium, tritium, Hassium, tritium, tritium, tritium, tritium, tritium, mealum, Dacron, CNIUM, CNIDIUM, CNIDIUM, Yurium, Yurium, Yurium, permanganate, permanganate, permanganate, permanganate, permanganate, permanganate, permanganate, permanganate, permanganate, permanganate, permanganate, permanganate, permanganate, permanganate, permanganate, permanganate. “Big Words Sea”, “Rare radioactive metal”is defined as: “Also known as ‘radioactive rare metal’. A class of rare metals. Including Natural Radioactive Metals... and man-made radioactive elements...”by this definition, all radioactive metals fall into this category. Taking into account the radioactive metal “Promethium”, according to its characteristics, has been included in the “Light rare earth metals”, to avoid duplication, not included in the “Rare radioactive metals”. According to the above classification method, there are 9 categories and 96 Non-ferrous metal Non-ferrous metal at this stage (see table below) . 5) the periodic system and periodic table of concluding elements are in the process of continuous development and improvement. In the late 1920s, elements 1 through 92 periodic table 43,61,85, and 87. In the decades that followed, periodic systems and periodic table were filled in and developed through exploration and discovery. In 2018,118 elements were included in the periodic table, which was published by the Chinese Chemical Society in accordance with International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry. But among the 118 elements discovered or synthesized, the atomic weight and structure of some elements have not been determined, and the exploration of the unknown is still going on. The classification method of the above Non-ferrous metal is based on the results of previous studies at the present stage and is proposed under the principles of easy classification and clear identification, taking into account the unique properties of the elements, as well as the application practices and past experience of the Non-ferrous metal industry. The accuracy and rationality of the division still need to be constantly discussed and improved by the scientific research and production workers of the Non-ferrous metal industry. The improper place of the article, also asks the general profession friend to criticize to correct. I hope that through the continuous efforts of the Non-ferrous metal industry to explore, for the transformation and development of the Non-ferrous metal industry, improve quality and innovation, to contribute their own strength. 

Source: Non-ferrous metal, posted by YANGXF