What is Aluminum? | Types, Definition, Structure, Function & Facts
What is Aluminum?
Aluminum is the 2nd element in the 13th column of the periodic table. It is classified as a post-conversion metal and as a “poor metal”. The aluminum atom contains 13 electrons and 13 protons. There are 3 valence electrons in the outermost shell.
Characteristics and Properties
Under standard conditions, aluminum is a fairly soft, strong and light metal. Its color is silver gray. Pure aluminum is a very reactive element and is rarely found on Earth in its free form.
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Aluminum acts as an excellent conductor of electricity and heat, but is not magnetic. When exposed to air, a thin layer of aluminum oxide forms on the metal surface. This prevents further corrosion and rusting.
Other important characteristics of aluminum include low density (which is only about three times that of water), ductility (which allows it to be stretched into a wire), and ductility (meaning it can be easily formed). a thin plate).
Highlights of Aluminum:
| Symbol | Al |
| Atomic Number | 13 |
| Atomic Weight | 26.981 |
| Classification | Post-transition Metal |
| Phase at Room Temperature | Solid |
| Density | 2.70 grams per cm cubed |
| Melting Point | 660.32°C, 1220.58°F |
| Boiling Point | 2519°C, 4566°F |
| Discovered by | Hans Orsted in 1825, first isolated by Friedrich Wohler in 1827 |
Where is Aluminum found on Earth?
Aluminum is the third most abundant element and the most abundant metal found in the earth’s crust. It is commonly found on Earth in minerals and compounds such as feldspar, beryl, cryolite, and turquoise.
How is Aluminum used today?
Due to its abundance, low cost, and useful qualities, aluminum is used in thousands of products. It is often used as a metal due to its lightness.
Most aluminum metal used in industry is an alloy in which aluminum is combined with other elements such as copper, zinc, silicon, and magnesium. Applications for aluminum alloys include soft drink cans, auto parts, bicycles, aluminum foil, power lines, house partitions, and even baseball bats.
Other uses of aluminum compounds include aluminum sulfate (used for water treatment), aluminum oxide (used in various industrial processes), and aluminum chloride (used in petroleum refining).
How was it discovered?
Danish chemist Hans Christian Orsted first created a metal he thought was aluminum in 1825 and assumed it was a new element. Credit is also given to Friedrich Wohler for first isolating the element in 1827.
Where did Aluminum get its name?
Aluminum takes its name from the mineral alum, which derives its name from the Latin word “alumen” meaning “bitter salt”.
Isotopes
There are several isotopes of aluminum, but only two occur naturally: aluminum-27 (stable) and aluminum-26 (radioactive). The majority of aluminum, more than 99%, is aluminum-27.
Interesting Facts about Aluminum
It makes up about 8% of the earth’s crust by weight.
Aluminum is 100% recyclable and retains the same physical properties after recycling as the original aluminum.
When aluminum reacts with hydrochloric acid, it produces hydrogen gas.
Recycling aluminum requires only about 5% of the energy required to extract aluminum from bauxite ore.
It has no known function in biology.
A commonly used alternative spelling for the element is “aluminum”.
In the mid-1800s, aluminum was more expensive than gold.