2805 - Alkali or alkaline-earth metals; rare-earth metals, scandium and yttrium, whether or not intermixed or interalloyed; mercury:

HTS code 2805 encompasses a specific group of metallic elements and their compounds. This category includes alkali metals (such as sodium and potassium), alkaline-earth metals (like calcium and magnesium), rare-earth metals (a group of 17 elements including lanthanum and cerium), scandium, yttrium, and mercury. The key defining characteristic is their elemental metallic nature, whether in their pure form, mixed with each other, or alloyed.

Distinguishing 2805 from its sibling categories, which primarily cover live animals in Chapter 01, is straightforward. While siblings are biological entities, 2805 deals with pure or alloyed chemical elements of a metallic nature. The scope of Section VI, where Chapter 28 resides, is broad, but 2805 is specifically concerned with these particular metallic elements, setting them apart from other inorganic chemicals or products of the chemical industry.

Within HTS code 2805, further subdivisions differentiate between the types of metals covered. Subheadings distinguish between the alkali and alkaline-earth metals as one group, while rare-earth metals, scandium, and yttrium form another distinct category. Mercury, a unique liquid metal at room temperature, is also classified separately. These subcategories are based on the distinct chemical properties and industrial applications of these elemental groups.