12 Interesting Facts about Aluminium: Post Transition Metal Atomic Element Number 13

1 Aluminium (spelled also aluminium) is the most abundant metal to be found in the earth’s crust and is in fact earth’s third most abundant element (after oxygen and silicon). This accounts for the fact that the average aluminium mine can produce 100,000 tonnes of aluminium a year.

2 Aluminium is rarely found in its pure state and has to be extracted from bauxite a brownish ore named after Les Baux in France where it was first discovered. The process of converting aluminium is known as the Bayer Process and is incredibly complex, requiring huge amounts of electricity for electrolytic reduction.

Aluminium in the Food Industry

3 Aluminium Facts

Atomic number: 13

Atomic weight: 26.981

State: silver-grey metal solid

Category: post-transition metal

Melting point: 660°C (1,220°F)

Boiling point: 2,513 °C (4,566 °F)

Recycling Aluminium Metal Uses

4 Aluminium is soft in its pure form but creates an extra strong alloy when combined with other metals such as zinc, copper, silicon, magnesium and manganese.

5 Recycling aluminium is extremely beneficial to the environment as this saves 95% of the amount of energy required to produce new aluminium from bauxite. A Coke can when recycled can be back on the shelves within 60 days.

6 Aluminium in theory can be recycled indefinitely over and over again, making aluminium mines a thing of the past.

7 Aluminium was so prized during the times of Emperor Napoleon III in the 1860s that he treated heads of state with fare served on aluminium. And the mere dukes had to settle for gold and silver instead.

Aluminium Oxide

Aluminium Symbol

8 When exposed to air, iron will eventually rust via oxidization. Pure aluminium also produces oxides in reaction to the air – aluminium oxide. But instead of rusting away, the oxide provides a tough transparent shell that protects the aluminium from corrosion.

9 Aluminium’s anti corrosive properties, strong alloys, exceptional lightness and good conductor of electricity means it is used in just about everything: ships, cars, trains, boats, construction, cutlery, surgical instruments, door handles, window frames, aircraft, rockets, furniture, plumbing, cables and more. Good job so much of it is present in the earth’s crust.

Who Discovered Aluminium?

10 Two hundred years ago, no one even knew aluminium existed as it was discovered in 1825 by Danish physicist, Hans Christian Oersted.

11 Aluminium is rarely found in its pure form in nature, as it is so reactive, even to the air. This is why aluminium can be found in over 270 mineral compounds.

12 Alum, an aluminium-potassium-sulfur compound was used by the Turks to produce Turkey red, a crimson dye for cloth. Alum was also sprinkled over wounds to aid healing. Today, alum is used as a blood coagulant, hair remover, antiseptic, dye and culinary agent.