Introduction and Objectives

An Introduction to Materials Engineering and Science For Chemical and Materials Engineers, by Brian S. MitcheU 

In addition, many elements are, in and of themselves, materials of construction. Aluminum and copper are just a few examples of elements that are used extensively for fabricating mechanical parts. Elements have special electrical characteristics, too. Silver and gold are used not just for jewelry, but also for a wide variety of electrical components. We will visit all of these topics in the course of this textbook. 

A closer look at the periodic table points out some interesting trends. These trends not only help us predict how one element might perform relative to another, but also give us some insight into the important properties of atoms and ions that determine their performance. For example, examination of the melting points of the elements in Table 1.3 shows that there is a general trend to decrease melting point as we go down 

1 First Ionization Energy (IE). The first ionization energy, abbreviated IE, is sometimes referred to as the ionization potential. It is the energy required to remove 

Source Ralls, Courtney, Wulff, Introduction to Materials Science and Engineering, Wiley, 1976. 

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