Aluminum

Basic Facts:

British Spelling: Aluminium (pronounced al-ew-min-e-um)
Atomic Symbol: Al
Atomic Number: 13
Atomic Mass: 27
Average Atomic Mass: 26.9815386
Type: Metal

Nuclear Properties:

Number of Protons: 13
Number of Neutrons: 14
Naturally Occurring (Common) Isotopes: 26Al and 27Al
Radioactivity: No
Number of Radioisotopes: 21

Chemical Properties:

Family/Group: Boron
Number of Valence Electrons: 3
Reactivity: Low
Combustibility/Flammability: No
Corrosion Resistance: High
Inclination for Ionic/Covalent Bonds: Yes

Physical Properties:

Density: 2.7 g/cm3
Melting Point: 660°C
Boiling Point: 2519°C
Phase of Matter at Room Temperature: Solid
Thermal Conductivity: High
Electrical Conductivity: Average
Luster: Shiny
Magnetism: No
Texture: Smooth
Malleability: High
Ductility: High
Color: Silvery White
Hardness: 2.75 Mohs

Hans Christian Ørsted

Bauxite

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/cf/Hans_Christian_%C3%98rsted_daguerreotype.jpg Pure Bauxite
Hans Christian Øersted, a Dutch scientist who in 1825 reacted potassium amalgram and aluminum chloride together, and became the first to isolate aluminum. However, his samples of aluminum were not completely pure. It was only until the 1880's that the process of isolating aluminum was perfected by Charles Martin Hall, Paul L. T. Héroult, and Karl Joseph Bayer. Aluminum is very common in the earth's crust (about 7.5%-8.2% of the Earth's crust) but it is not found in pure form. It only occurs naturally in compounds, such as aluminum hydroxide, which is found in large amounts in bauxite.

Periodic Table
Uses of Aluminum
Aluminum Foil Drink Can Water Bottle Telephone Pole w/Telephone Lines Electrical Transmission Lines
Food and Drink Packaging and Storage Electricity and Communications
iPhone 5S and HTC One Smartphones MacBook Pro Unibody Laptop Chevrolet Corvette C7 Frame Pile of Aluminum Vehicle Wheels
Personal Computing Devices Vehicle Components

Interesting Facts about Aluminum
  • Some Foods/Drinks contain aluminum. Examples include tea, processed cheese, lentils, and sponge cakes.
  • Aluminum is not harmful to living things. In very large amounts, however, it can cause dementia, memory loss, listlessness, severe trembling, and/or damage to the central nervous system.
  • The amount of aluminum in the atmosphere is a very small amount. About 5.0 × 10-15 grams/cm3 to 1.8 × 10-13 grams/cm3.
  • Aluminum has 38 spectral emission lines

  • Aluminum Spectral Lines


Aluminum Element Project