Titanium

metals · strong materials · chemistry

Silver and shiny. Titanium is a lustrous metal with a beautiful silver color that looks polished and smooth. It catches the light in a really cool way.

Incredibly strong. Titanium is one of the strongest metals we know, but it's also really lightweight. That's why it's used to build airplanes and spacecraft that need to be tough without being heavy.

Never gets rusty. Unlike iron, titanium doesn't rust even when it's surrounded by salty sea water or harsh chemicals. This makes it perfect for ships, submarines, and things that spend time in the ocean.

Found in nature. Titanium is always found combined with oxygen in the ground as titanium oxide, never as pure metal by itself. Scientists have to process rocks to extract the pure titanium we use.

Safe for bodies. Because titanium doesn't react with the body, doctors use it to make artificial joints, dental implants, and other medical devices that can last a lifetime.