10 most expensive metals in the world - ranking for 2021

The role of metals in the development of mankind cannot be overestimated. From ancient times to the present day, the need for metals is only growing, because their use is large-scale and limitless. They play a key role in all spheres of our lives: the production of technology and electronics, the chemical industry, the automotive industry, the aerospace and defense industry, medicine and pharmaceuticals, and much more.

Photo: rostov.metalkom.rf

There are a large number of different metals in the world. Based on their chemical composition, they are all divided into two main groups:

• Black (iron, cast iron, steel).
• Colored (aluminum, copper, silver, gold, platinum, etc.).

Precious metals are classified as a separate category and, in addition to being used in the jewelry industry, they are the basis of the global financial market.

When you mention the most expensive metals, many may think of the most popular precious minerals: gold or platinum. In fact, there are much more valuable options on the world's commodity exchanges. The cost of metals depends on many factors. The greatest influence on the price is exerted by the amount of world reserves and the complexity of production.

We present a ranking of the 10 most expensive metals in the world. Their prices change quickly on exchanges, so approximate prices for 2021 are indicated.

The most resistant metal

Iridium is considered the most resistant metal - it cannot be dissolved in any acid. Due to its durability, this metal is used by the International Bureau of Weights and Measures - the kilogram standard is created from it. This iridium cylinder is necessary so that all countries have a common idea of ​​exactly how much a kilogram should weigh. This is important because any deviation can cause malfunctions in planes and ships and, subsequently, a serious disaster.

Iridium is an indicator of how much a kilogram should weigh

Iridium is also used in making money. For example, the African country of Rwanda issued an iridium coin with a face value of 10 Rwandan francs. We can say that this is the most chemical-resistant coin. The only way to damage it is by throwing it into a vessel with fluorine, a strong oxidizing agent. But the destructive reaction will begin only when heated to 450 degrees Celsius.

The rarest metal

Francium is the rarest metal. According to scientists' calculations, its concentration in the earth's crust is only 340 grams. It is possible to obtain more uranium artificially, but this requires starting nuclear reactions.

Francium is very rare and rarely used

Francium is very radioactive, so at the moment it is practically not used anywhere. However, sometimes scientists still use varieties of francium in the course of scientific research. There have also been attempts to diagnose cancer using technologies where francium was also involved.

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The heaviest metal

Osmium is considered the heaviest metal from the entire periodic table. Its amazing property is that, being the heaviest, in air it becomes a volatile, toxic substance. The name “osmium” can be translated from ancient Greek as “smell”. This name was given to the metal for a reason - in 1803, the English chemist Smithson Tennant felt from his own experience that the metal smelled of chlorine and was so unpleasant that it irritated the throat.

Osmium, by the way, is very beautiful

Due to its hardness, osmium is often used in mechanisms, namely in places where strong friction occurs. It is also used in the manufacture of filaments for incandescent lamps. Poisonous properties occur only in open air - the metal turns into the toxic substance osmium tetroxide, which causes eye irritation, damage to the upper respiratory tract and even inflammation of the kidneys.

Platinum

Precious metal, dense but soft, perfectly amenable to processing. Platinum jewelry, coins, orders and medals are of particular value and beauty.

Over the years, this metal was used by counterfeiters to create supposedly jewelry alloys. Today, platinum is also used in the automotive industry, for the production of electronics, aerotechnics, medicine, chemistry, and the weapons industry.

The metal has refractoriness, high conductivity, and resistance to external influences. In recent years, the cost of platinum has decreased slightly and is approximately 30-40 USD per gram.

The most liquid metal

Mercury is considered the most liquid metal and, at the same time, one of the most dangerous for the human body. It is almost always in a liquid state, because its melting point is -38 degrees Celsius. This is why this metal is used in thermometers - as the temperature increases, the liquid expands. Since the thermometer is made in the form of a glass tube, it can only expand in one direction. To prevent other conditions such as atmospheric pressure from affecting the thermometer readings, air is pumped out of the tube.

Despite its dangers, mercury is used even in everyday things

In the Middle Ages, it was believed that by mixing mercury, sulfur and the mysterious “philosopher’s stone”, pure gold could be obtained. Therefore, a lot of attention was paid to this metal. Since the Middle Ages, no one has been able to obtain gold from mercury, but scientists did it in 1947 - they placed 100 milligrams of mercury in a nuclear reactor and obtained 35 micrograms of gold. Here is the second amazing property of mercury - it can be turned into gold, but this is a very expensive process.

Artificial elements:

Californium

$6,500,000 per gram

There are several isotopes of californium, with californium-252 having the greatest practical application. Radioactive californium stands apart even among the most expensive metals. This is explained both by its huge price and special properties. The energy released by one gram of californium is comparable to the power of a conventional nuclear reactor.

Several milligrams of the metal are produced annually, and the total amount of Californian produced over all years does not exceed 5 grams. The main application is scientific research in the field of nuclear physics and medicine.

The lightest metal

The title of lightest metal rightfully goes to lithium. It is painted silver-white and is so soft that it can be easily cut with a knife. Since it is the lightest metal on the periodic table, when it enters water it floats to the surface.

And here it is - lithium

For many, this may be a revelation, but you can hold a device with lithium in your hand right now - this is your smartphone. Mobile devices use lithium batteries, which are compact but only last a few days on a single charge. Scientists are trying to improve the performance of lithium-ion batteries, but so far they have not succeeded.

Perhaps in the future, completely different batteries will be used instead of lithium-ion batteries. Which? Read in this material.

Top 10 most expensive precious metals on the planet

Most often in history, values ​​were measured in gold equivalent. Gold is one of the ten most valuable precious metals on the planet, but it does not top the list. The most expensive metals - orders of magnitude more valuable than gold - are not used to make jewelry and are not so widespread or well known.

Let's look at the rating. The data is current as of November 2022 and is approximate due to exchange rate fluctuations. In 2011, platinum was more expensive than palladium, and the price of gold was one and a half times higher than today.

Let's focus on the leader of the rating - the most expensive element. Its cost is measured in hundreds of millions of dollars. In rubles, this number - 16,604,750,000 - is more like a Wi-Fi password than a price. 1 mg California costs the same as 9 three-room apartments in the historical center of Taganrog with panoramic windows and European-quality renovation.

Ruthenium

“Russian” metal, separated from platinum ores in 1844 by the scientist K. Klaus, a teacher at Kazan University. Hence the name. It is of greatest value in the composition of alloys, since the metal itself has high refractoriness and wear resistance. The melting point reaches 2334°C.

Used for the manufacture of electrical contacts, measuring instruments, printed circuits, in jewelry and the chemical industry. Some isotopes of ruthenium are used to irradiate cancer patients. The cost of 1 gram of ruthenium is within 2 USD.

Rhodium

Another “brother” of palladium, obtained by Wollaston from platinum ores. Rhodium perfectly reflects electromagnetic radiation, has not only a high melting point (1966 ° C), but also antioxidant properties, high density and hardness, and a characteristic shine.

Only 30 tons of this metal are mined per year, mainly in Russia, South Africa, Canada and Colombia, and are used in the automotive industry to create headlights and mirrors, in nuclear energy for the production of equipment and reactors, in electroplating and jewelry, for the final processing of coatings and products. You can buy one gram of rhodium for 30 USD, although some sources claim that the price of the metal reaches 200 USD.

Why so expensive?

The price is determined based on the results of trading on the London Stock Exchange - this is the central market for the purchase and sale of metals. The exchange has existed since 1877. At that time, only tin and copper were quoted.

The cost of natural metals also depends on the geographical location of the deposit, the complexity of extraction, distance from processing sites, and market needs. The price includes logistics costs and markups of all links in the chain (those who receive the metals on the way to the final consumer).

Silver

One of the most common natural metals, which is mined in the form of pure nuggets. It is valued for its qualities - the highest thermal and electrical conductivity, the ability to destroy about 700 varieties of harmful microorganisms. Melting point - 962°C.

Areas of use: manufacturing of electrical equipment and high-precision electronics, dental prostheses, jewelry, cleaning filters.

As a high-tech additive, silver is included in various alloys to create materials that are more durable and resistant to external influences. The cost of 1 gram of silver is from 0.5 to 1 USD.

Benefits and applications of California-252

Despite the colossal cost and complexity of manufacturing californium, its production is justified - it has no analogues.

Neutron source

The essence of the operation of a nuclear reactor is the self-sustaining chain reaction of atomic fission, accompanied by the release of energy. And the most expensive metal in the world, California, has unique properties for this: one gram of it emits 2.3 billion (2.3 × 1012) neutrons per second. Neutron radiation of such power is inherent in the entire reactor of a “traditional” system.

Scientific research of the micro- and macrocosm

California provides scientists with enormous opportunities. The difference between the scale of work in which it is used is striking: these include developments devoted to space exploration (near and far), and the study of atoms of substances.

applied Science

In more specific areas of science, this element is also useful. Its use is expensive, but gives very accurate results. With its help it became possible:

Neutron activation analysis, quantitative and qualitative, extremely accurate, is the same one that supported the hypothesis of Napoleon’s poisoning, finding arsenic in a strand of the former emperor’s hair cut off the day before his death.

Neutron radiography is a method of non-destructive examination of material, originally used to recognize the composition of ores - minerals and alloys.

Daily Practice

The industries where the most expensive metal is used are diverse: metallurgy, chemical, oil and coal industries. With californium we can find damage in the hulls of airplanes, ocean liners and nuclear reactors.

Cf can also serve for safety: neutron radiography can find drugs in a sealed cartridge case and explosives at the bottom of a freight car, thereby saving hundreds and thousands of lives.

Medicine

Saves the lives of expensive Californians and cancer patients. In the 1960s, studies began on the effects of California-252 on malignant tumors. Experiments and studies were carried out - first on Chinese hamsters, then on humans. Now the 252 isotope is successfully used in radiological therapy of tumors - it is expensive, but effective.

Mysteries of antiquity and Napoleon's hair

Radiography is used to determine the age of objects of art and ancient life. Thanks to neutron technologies, counterfeiting works of sculpture and painting is becoming increasingly difficult.

But let's return to Bonaparte. Neutron activation analysis showed that the arsenic content in a strand of his hair was 13 times higher than the physiological norm. It was assumed that Napoleon was poisoned. However, at the beginning of the 21st century, the hypothesis was refuted by finding out that the hair was stored in a powder containing arsenic, and Bonaparte himself suffered from a perforated ulcer and, probably, stomach cancer. It is unknown which disease killed him, but it is possible that exposure to Californian would have saved the exiled emperor.

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Where and how is the most expensive metal mined?

There are only two enterprises in the world that produce californium. They are located on the territories of the world's main nuclear powers: RIAR in Russian Dimitrovgrad and Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee, USA.

To obtain californium, targets made of curium (also an expensive artificial metal) are bombarded (irradiated) with neutrons in a nuclear reactor for a long time (from 8 months to 1.5 years). The synthesis takes place in several stages with the formation of new isotopes and stops at californium, the nucleus of which is insensitive to radiation and does not increase its mass.

There is a method that allows you to produce californium from plutonium. To produce 1 g of californium it takes 8 years and 10 kg of plutonium, which is also produced only in laboratories and 40 kg of which is enough to create 6 nuclear missiles. Plutonium successively metamorphoses into the metals americium, curium, berkelium and, finally, californium.

The hardest metal

Titanium is considered the hardest and lightest metal on our planet. Due to its properties, it is actively used in aviation and shipbuilding - the material is excellent for the manufacture of aircraft and ship hulls. In addition, due to its strength and lightness, body armor is made from titanium. This metal is safe for the human body, therefore it is often used in medicine for the manufacture of instruments and even prostheses - artificial body parts.

Due to its outstanding properties, the word “titanium” is used to describe video cards and other electronics to emphasize their power.

When heated, titanium begins to absorb oxygen, chlorine, nitrogen and other gases. Thanks to this amazing property, the metal is used in various filters - passing various gases through titanium tubes heated to 600 degrees Celsius, you can clean them of impurities. In the same way, you can purify water from oxygen, which is especially useful in the food industry. It is believed that the oxygen contained in water degrades the quality of some products - at a minimum, it can shorten the shelf life of beer.

Rhenium

Metal is a “record holder”. This is the rarest chemical element found on Earth. To separate just 100 grams of rhenium, you will have to spend about 200 tons of molybdenum and copper. At the same time, the melting point of rhenium reaches 3459 ° C (a higher value only for tungsten).

High density and refractoriness predetermine the role of rhenium - the metal is used to create rocket launchers and all structures that are operated at high temperatures and intense loads. You can buy rhenium only from a Chilean company, and the cost of 1 gram starts from 10-12 USD.

Palladium

A rare and noble metal of the platinum group. It was first obtained by scientist W. Wollaston during experiments to create a commercially viable method for forging platinum. Palladium is named after Pallas Athena, the ancient Greek goddess of wisdom, one of the most revered goddesses in the pantheon.

The properties of palladium are a fairly high melting point of 1555 ° C, ease of processing, hardness and density. Since about 1970, this metal has become an essential component of automobile catalysts and is widely used for the production of high-precision equipment and instruments, in prosthetics and jewelry.

It has anti-corrosion properties and is able to “extend the life” of other metals. Palladium is officially sold on world exchanges at a price of 25-30 USD per gram.

Interesting facts: what is even more valuable than gold?

Some interesting facts: many different things cost more than gold, for example, rhinoceros horn, which can be bought for $110 per gram. This price is due to the fact that it is extremely difficult to obtain, and there are fewer and fewer animals. But the value of the horn can also be called overestimated, because it mainly consists of keratin, which is also found in human hair.

Rhinoceros

Antimatter

Antimatter is the most unstable substance and is extremely difficult to produce. It is a very powerful substance that allows you to produce a lot of energy. It has not been fully studied. Its estimated value reaches 62 trillion dollars per gram.

Antimatter

Diamond

A diamond is a perfectly crafted and polished diamond. It has perfect shine, perfect shape, perfect look. The cost per gram reaches 50 thousand dollars or more than 3 million rubles.

Diamond

Plutonium

It is a rather expensive substance due to the overly complex creation process. It is also extremely important because it is used for the manufacture of nuclear weapons and in nuclear power plants.

Plutonium