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Transition metals. The piece of jewellery is made of silver (Ag), the balls are nickel (Ni), the rod is iron (Fe), the strip is copper (Cu), the black lump is manganese (Mn) and the grey lump is cobalt (Co). In general, the transition metal elements are hard and inert, and have high melting points. Some of the transition metal elements are strongly magnetic, such as iron, cobalt, and nickel. Cobalt is mostly mixed with other metals to make alloys. Nickel and manganese can both be mixed with iron to make different types of steel. Silver chemicals are used in photography. Copper is used in electrical wiring. (KEYSTONE/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY/ANDREW LAMBERT PHOTOGRAPHY)