Fill in the Blanks solutions b1Online version solutions b1_What's a smartphone made of? by v v 1 billion open phones gold component As of 2018 , there are around 2 . 5 smartphone users in the world . If we broke all their newest phones , which are just a fraction of the total that ? ve been built , and split them into their parts , that would produce around 85 , 000 kilograms of , 875 , 000 of silver , and 40 million kilograms of copper . How did this precious cache get into our , and can we reclaim it ? 2 earth elements silver smartphone Gold , , and copper are actually just a few of the 70 or so chemical that make up the average . These can be divided into different groups , two of the most critical being rare elements and precious metals . 3 elements vibrations modern display concentrations Rare earths are a selection of 17 elements that are actually common in Earth ? s crust and are found in many areas across the world in low . These have a huge range of magnetic , phosphorescent , and conductive properties that make them crucial to technologies . In fact , of the 17 types of rare earth metals , phones and other electronics may contain up to 16 . In smartphones , these create the screen and color , aid conductivity , and produce the signature , amongst other things . 4 However E companies systems problems chemicals children , even recycling need our scrutiny . Just as the production of smartphones comes with social and environmental , dismantling them does too . - waste is sometimes intentionally exported to countries where labor is cheap but working conditions are poor . Vast workforces , often made up of women and , may be underpaid , lack the training to safely disassemble phones , and be exposed to elements like lead and mercury , which can permanently damage their nervous . Phone waste can also end up in huge dump sites , leaching toxic into the soil and water , mirroring the problems of the mines where the elements originated .
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