Most people are familiar with precious metals, especially those who love jewelry or collect coins. However, many people have never heard the term, “noble” metals, which happen to be quite similar, but stand out as their own category of metal. Some people often confuse these two categories since most noble metals are also precious ones.

Continue reading to learn more about precious metals and noble metals, including their similarities and differences.

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Precious Metals Versus Noble Metals

Precious Metals

“Precious” metals are rare, naturally-occurring elemental metals that have a high economic value. Throughout history, they were used as currency. Even today, there are still sold and traded as investments, as well as, among private buyers and sellers.

Common examples include gold, platinum, silver, zirconium, palladium, mercury, bismuth, beryllium, germanium, rhodium, cobalt, tungsten, iridium, and osmium. They are often used in jewelry and other ornamental décor since they are extremely corrosion-resistant and acid attack resistant. They are also used for investment purposes, currency, electronics, radiation shielding, thermal insulation, and more.

Noble Metals

Noble metals are a grouping of metals that resist oxidation and corrosion in moist or humid air. Common examples in order of increasing atomic number include ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, silver, osmium, iridium, platinum, and gold. However, there are multiple “lists” for noble metals, as some contain mercury while other may include rhenium. Some lists include gold, silver, and copper, but leave out all others.

Interestingly enough, not all metals that are resistant to corrosion and acid attacks are considered “noble.” For instance, titanium, niobium, and tantalum are all highly resistant to corrosion, yet they are not categorized as noble metals. Although chemists permit a relaxed definition of noble metals, physicists offer a more restrictive definition. According to the science of physics, noble metals are those that have filled electronic d-bands. If you adhere to this definition, only gold, silver and copper are considered noble.

How to Sell Precious Metal

If you have old jewelry, catalytic converters, coin collections, or other versions of valuable metal, you can sell these items to a scrap metal buyer and get paid cash on the spot. Gold, silver, and platinum are currently doing well in the scrap metal market, so take advantage of the current economy and sell your precious metal commodities while their value is still exponential.

Are you wondering which local metal recycling center is the best choice for your high-end, luxury metals? Just contact Garden City Iron & Metal at 1-888-586-5322 for the highest standards of professionalism, and the highest payouts for metal recycling in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Base Metals

As mentioned, a base metal is any common metal that cannot be categorized as noble or precious. Silver may be an exception to this rule, as it is sometimes used as a base metal for gold and platinum coatings. Furthermore, they are generally the most readily available and inexpensive metals. Base metals are also more prone to corrosion, oxidation, and tarnishing. Examples of base metals include lead, copper, tin, aluminum, and zinc. Brass and bronze are alloys of these metals, making them base metals as well.

Another interesting fact about the properties of base metals is that they produce hydrogen gas when diluted with hydrochloric acid. This practice is primarily used for galvanizing applications.

Base metals have a second definition as being the primary metallic element in an alloy. For instance, the base metal of bronze is copper. Similarly, the term base metal can take on the definition as the metal core underlying a coating. For example, steel may be the base metal of galvanized steel. And as mentioned, silver is sometimes coated in gold or rhodium, making it the base metal of those commodities.

Precious and Noble Metals

Precious metals are rare, naturally-occurring elemental metals with high economic value. Throughout history, they were used as currency. Even today, there are still sold and traded as investments, as well as, among private buyers and sellers. Examples include gold, silver, platinum, tungsten, zirconium, cobalt, palladium, rhodium, osmium, and iridium.

Noble metals are a grouping of metals that resist oxidation and corrosion in moist or humid air. Common examples in order of increasing atomic number include ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, silver, osmium, iridium, platinum, and gold. However, there are multiple “list” for noble metals, as some contain mercury while other may include rhenium. Some lists include gold, silver and copper, but leave out all others.

How to Profit From Scrap Metal in Indiana

Call Garden City Iron & Metal at 1-888-586-5322 to sell scrap metal in Indiana. We pay cash on the spot for all metal and metal commodities, including vehicles, car parts, appliances, construction equipment, farming equipment, and much more! Collect all the scrap metal you can, and then sell it to us for the highest profit in town! Request a free estimate or information, today.

Garden City Iron and Metal 1-888-586-5322

Garden City Iron & Metal

Tag Archives: precious noble metals facts

The Similarities and Differences of Noble and Precious Metals

Precious Metals Versus Noble Metals

Precious Metals

Noble Metals

How to Sell Precious Metal

What are Base Metals?

Base metals are basically any common metal that is not a noble metal nor precious metal. Still confused? Not to worry; continue reading to learn what all of these terms mean, as well as, some examples of each.

Base Metals

Precious and Noble Metals

How to Profit From Scrap Metal in Indiana