write a short note on interstitial compounds or electrometallurgy i
Answers
The compounds formed when small atoms of H, C or N get trapped inside the crystal lattice of metals are known as interstitial compounds.
A number of interstitial compounds are formed by the transition metals. Transition metals react with elements such as hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen, boron etc. to form interstitial compounds.The chemical properties of the parent transition metals are not altered during the formation of interstitial compounds. However, there are various changes in the physical properties such as density, rigidity, hardness, malleability, ductility, electrical conductivity etc. Steel and cast iron are the interstitial compounds of iron which are formed with carbon. In the formation of these compounds, the malleability and ductility of iron is lost to a great extent, but the tenacity of the metal increases.
Electrometallurgy is the field concerned with the processes of metal electrodeposition There are four categories of these processes: