So, I'm doing this project for my chemistry class and I need to explain the raw materials in which paper slips are made of. I'm not really sure if galvanized steel is. If not, can someone PLEASE tell me what raw materials are metal paper clips made of???
The term 'raw material' usually refers to the components that a manufacturer must purchase in order to make a product. For example, an automotive manufacturer would purchase galvanized steel from a steel supplier, and would consider galvanized steel to be a raw material for his production process. However, I suspect that your instructor means to imply something slightly different. I suspect that the question is really asking what are the 'primary' or 'fundamental' components of a paper clip. In that case, the definition goes beyond what must the paper clip manufacturer purchase, and is really asking what fundamental physical elements go into the manufacture of paper clips. So the answer would be iron, carbon, oxygen, etc, because those are the elements that are required to produce steel. By the way, I'm not sure that paper clips are made from galvanized steel - or for that matter, even from steel. But that's another question.
As a specially coated type of steel, galvanized metal enjoys a great reputation as being an ideal building product to use for any type of structure that is expected to stand for many years. Here are some basics about how galvanized steel is created, as well as how it can be used in various building projects. Galvanized metal is simply steel in some form that has received a thin coating of zinc oxide. The purpose of the zinc is to protect the steel from elements that normally would lead to oxidation, corrosion and the eventual weakening of the steel. In this sense, the zinc coating acts as what is called a sacrificial anode. In other words, the zinc will protect the steel from corrosion by acting as a barrier between the steel and the corrosive agent, at least until the zinc coating has been completely oxidized. Galvanized metal can be made into supports, girders and even into sheets of metal that can be used in all sorts of construction and building projects.
No, because first of all galvinizing is coating the steel with zinc to prevent oxidation. Iron is a raw material, as is zinc, carbon. Other metals may be combined with the iron and carbon, including vanadium and chromium.
For paperclips, the raw material is steel wire. The company that makes paperclips does not smelt iron, they buy the steel wire at the diameter they want it and they feed it into automated machines that bend the wire and cut it to length. If you want to go back into the whole supply chain, then you are looking at a mine that digs iron ore from the ground. The iron ore (Taconite is one of the minerals but there are others) is sent to a smelter that combines the ore with coke (roasted coal) and oxygen in a huge furnace. They may probably add steel scrap, and continuously cast it into bar. good luck
