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Minerals
MINERALS IN YOUR HOME
By Mackenzie M.
SILVERWARE
Knives, forks, and spoons are usually made with iron and chromium (stainless steel). Stainless steel is used to make silverware because of its properties of strength, hardness, and rust resistance.
PLATES AND BOWLS
Plates, bowls, mugs, etc. are often made with clay minerals. Clay minerals are easy to shape when they're wet and are a thermal insulator. Thermal insulation is useful for plates and bowls because it retains the heat that keeps the food warm longer.
DRINKING GLASSES
Drinking glasses are usually made with quartz because quartz is transparent, hard, and rigid. Sands made of quartz are important in the glass-making industry.
POTS AND PANS
Pots and pans can be made of iron, copper, or aluminum--or all three. Iron, copper, and aluminum give pots and pans the properties of strength, not rusting, and conducting heat. Fluorine is also used on pots and pans for a non-stick effect.
CANS OF FOOD
Aluminum or tin is used to make cans. Aluminum and tin both give cans of food the abilty to not rust and to be crushed.
SALT
Salt comes from a mineral called halite. Halite is obviously salty, and it also has properties of softness, breaks up easily, and dissolves in water.
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