Base metal
From Biocrawler, the free encyclopedia.
A base metal is a common or at least inexpensive metal. Frequently, the term is used to refer to those that oxidize or corrode relatively easily, and react variably with dilute hydrochloric acid to form hydrogen. Examples include iron, nickel, copper, lead and zinc.
Alchemists were concerned with the transmutation of base metals into gold (a noble or precious metal).
