Final answer:
Precious stones like diamonds and metals like gold have distinct uses due to their unique properties such as hardness and malleability. Precious stones are mainly used in jewelry, while metals vary in use from electronics to construction based on their melting points and strength of metallic bonds.
Step-by-step explanation:
Precious stones such as diamonds, emeralds, rubies, and sapphires have unique properties and uses. They are high-melting-point solids, which makes them hard and resistant to deformation, with diamonds having an exceptionally high melting point of 3500°C at 63.5 atm. These stones do not conduct electricity well and tend to shatter rather than deform when exposed to stress. Therefore, they are primarily used for jewelry and decorative purposes due to their luster and rarity.
Metals, on the other hand, have different properties depending on their type. Precious metals like gold and silver are highly malleable, ductile, and conductive, making them ideal for use in jewelry, electronics, and coins. Conversely, industrial metals such as bronze, lead, and steel excel as construction materials. Steel, an alloy mainly composed of iron, is incredibly strong and has a high melting point suited for building and machinery. Lead has a lower melting point and is denser, used for weights and radiation shielding. Bronze, a copper-tin alloy, is used for art, coins, and bearings due to its corrosion resistance and hardness.
The melting point of a material can indicate its purity and identity. Metals display a wide range of melting points; mercury has a melting point of -39°C, while tungsten has one of the highest melting points at 3422°C. The strength of metallic bonds contributes to the variance in melting points, influencing their applications in technology and industry.