St. Louis Sentinel
The Weekly Element Extravagant
September 28th, 2009
September 28th, 2009
Aspire Aluminum
By: Brandon Tweedell
Pronounced ah-LOO-men-em, it comes from the Latin word alumen. Although aluminum is the most abundant metal in the earth's crust, it is never found free in nature. All of the earth's aluminum has combined with other elements to form compounds. Two of the most common compounds are alum, such as potassium aluminum sulfate and aluminum oxide. About 8.2% of the earth's crust is composed of aluminum. Hans Christian Oersted, a Danish chemist, was the first to produce tiny amounts of aluminum. Unfortunately, aluminum remained too expensive to be widely used.
Aluminum is soft and easy to shape but it is harder if it is cold-worked by hammering or pressing, a process called annealing. Aluminum can also be welded, brazed, soldered, and be made harder. Aluminum is one of the lightest metals there is. This means that it takes less energy to move it than most metals of the same size. This weight saving and energy saving is important in transportation. The same is true of all components of a vehicle. The engine block, drive shafts, wheels, and body panels can all be made of metal alloys. Now the car ways less and the fuel consumption improves. Unfortunately, the price also increases.
Aluminum is the most reactive metal in common use. This high reactivity has its advantages and disadvantages. The advantage is that it readily reacts with oxygen from the air, forming an oxide layer on its surface that protects the metal from environmental reaction. But the disadvantage is that it is very difficult to separate from the ore, and the costs of manufacture are high.
Aluminum is a good conductor of both heat and electricity. It has found many applications in the electricity supply industry and also in places where good heat conductivity is needed, such as radiators and cookware. When made as a special alloy, aluminum is an even better conductor than most elements. This is because it is less dense and also less expensive. Today more than nine out of every ten kilometers of electrical cable are made from aluminum.
One day, aluminum could be one of the top most important elements in the world. Once people realize all the advantages and uses of this element, it will be greatly aspired.
By: Brandon Tweedell
Pronounced ah-LOO-men-em, it comes from the Latin word alumen. Although aluminum is the most abundant metal in the earth's crust, it is never found free in nature. All of the earth's aluminum has combined with other elements to form compounds. Two of the most common compounds are alum, such as potassium aluminum sulfate and aluminum oxide. About 8.2% of the earth's crust is composed of aluminum. Hans Christian Oersted, a Danish chemist, was the first to produce tiny amounts of aluminum. Unfortunately, aluminum remained too expensive to be widely used.
Aluminum is soft and easy to shape but it is harder if it is cold-worked by hammering or pressing, a process called annealing. Aluminum can also be welded, brazed, soldered, and be made harder. Aluminum is one of the lightest metals there is. This means that it takes less energy to move it than most metals of the same size. This weight saving and energy saving is important in transportation. The same is true of all components of a vehicle. The engine block, drive shafts, wheels, and body panels can all be made of metal alloys. Now the car ways less and the fuel consumption improves. Unfortunately, the price also increases.
Aluminum is the most reactive metal in common use. This high reactivity has its advantages and disadvantages. The advantage is that it readily reacts with oxygen from the air, forming an oxide layer on its surface that protects the metal from environmental reaction. But the disadvantage is that it is very difficult to separate from the ore, and the costs of manufacture are high.
Aluminum is a good conductor of both heat and electricity. It has found many applications in the electricity supply industry and also in places where good heat conductivity is needed, such as radiators and cookware. When made as a special alloy, aluminum is an even better conductor than most elements. This is because it is less dense and also less expensive. Today more than nine out of every ten kilometers of electrical cable are made from aluminum.
One day, aluminum could be one of the top most important elements in the world. Once people realize all the advantages and uses of this element, it will be greatly aspired.
