What are Exotic Metals?

When words such as gallium, rhodium, beryllium and vanadium are mentioned, the average person has no idea what is being discussed. These unusual words are the names of metals. These metals are four of about 35 metals that have been called exotic metals.
All metals have a bright luster and are good conductors of heat and electricity. All have varying degrees of hardness, density, ductility and malleability.

This short article can only describe a few of the exotic metals. Gallium is a soft metal that will melt when held in a person's hand. It is used in semi-conductors and light emitting diodes. Rhodium is a hard, metal that is used in alloys of platinum and as a catalyst. Beryllium is a low density metal with a high melting point. It is used in rockets and space telescopes. Vanadium is a soft metal that is used in specialty steel alloys for high speed tools.

Cesium is a soft, silver-gold colored metal that melts at sightly above room temperature. It is used in atomic clocks. Hafnium is used in integrated circuits and in the control rods of nuclear power plants. Germanium is a hard, gray-white metal that is used in transistors, fiber optics and infrared optical systems. Indium is a soft metal that is used in liquid crystal displays.

It's most common isotope is radio active and is used in certain types of medicine. Osmium is a hard, blue gray metal that is used where extreme durability is needed such as the tips of fountain pens. Scandium is a rare metal that is used in aluminum alloys. Radium is an extremely radio active metal with few practical uses. Thorium is a sightly radioactive metal that can be used as a substitute for uranium in nuclear reactors. It has numerous other applications.