Noble Metal
The noble metals are metals that are resistant to corrosion and oxidation in moist air, unlike most base metals. They tend to be precious, often due to their rarity in the Earth's crust. The noble metals are considered to be (in order of increasing atomic number) ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, silver, osmium, iridium, platinum, and gold.
Other sources include mercury or even rhenium as a noble metal. On the other hand, titanium, niobium, and tantalum are not included as noble metals despite the fact that they are very resistant to corrosion. Noble metals should not be confused with precious metals (although many noble metals have high value).
Read more about Noble Metal: Introduction, Electrochemistry
Famous quotes containing the words noble and/or metal:
“The noble woman is half a man, even a complete one. Only their imperfections make them women.”
—Franz Grillparzer (1791–1872)
“And, indeed, is there not something holy about a great kitchen?... The scoured gleam of row upon row of metal vessels dangling from hooks or reposing on their shelves till needed with the air of so many chalices waiting for the celebration of the sacrament of food. And the range like an altar, yes, before which my mother bowed in perpetual homage, a fringe of sweat upon her upper lip and the fire glowing in her cheeks.”
—Angela Carter (1940–1992)