What are Metals?

Metals are shiny, solid materials that conduct heat and electricity.

The main metals we use and throw away at home are found in food packaging.

Aluminium is used for drinks cans as it is light and easy to form into shapes.

Steel is used for food tins as it is cheap and durable (lasts a long time).

Discover

Where metals come from and how they are made…

Aluminium

Iron

Steel

Precious Metals

Rare Earth Metals

Reduce

Find out how to reduce your use of metals

Reuse

Find out how to reuse metals

Recycle

Find out more about recycling metals

Activities

Metals Worksheets

Metals Worksheets KS1

Metals Worksheets KS2

Metals Worksheets: Home Activity

Metals Worksheets KS3-4

Global Issues

Climate Change
Sustainable Development Goals
Circular Economy
Aluminium can be recycled continuously and only 5% of the energy used to create it is required to recycle it.
Recycled steel in Devon is often transported to a number of smelting plants within the UK where it is processed and turned into sheet steel and then sold to various industries.
It takes less energy to create iron and steel from recycled iron than from iron ore, and it can be recycled forever.
Silver has the highest known electric and heat conductivity of all metals and is used for making printed electrical circuits and as a coating for electronic conductors
In 2005, around 2,470 metric tons of gold were produced worldwide. Since then, gold production has increased steadily to an estimated 3,200 metric tons in 2019
Due to practices such as open pit mining and cyanide heap leaching, one estimate suggests mining companies generate about 20 tons of toxic waste for every 0.333-ounce gold ring.
Iron is malleable, able to be thinned out when hit with a hammer, while steel (iron mixed with a little carbon) is stronger and does not stretch as much.
Recycling one tonne of steel cans saves: 1.5 tonnes of iron ore 0.5 tonnes of coke 1.28 tonnes of solid waste Reduces air emissions by 86% Reduces water pollution by 76%
Steel is the main material used in delivering renewable energy like solar, hydro, and wind power.