Aluminum

            Aluminum or Aluminium is the third most abundant element on the earth after oxygen and silicon. It is also the most abundant metallic element in the earth's crust. Aluminum is the most modern of the common metals. Its name originated from the Latin word Alumen. There are three oxidation numbers in Aluminum. The atomic symbol for Aluminum is Al, while the atomic mass and number are 26.981539 amu and 13 respectively. .
             Aluminum is a very soft, lightweight, silvery-white metal. Aluminum is so soft in its pure form that it requires an addition of less than1% of silicon or iron to harden and strengthen it. Aluminum becomes stronger the colder it becomes. The name Aluminum was first suggested by Sir Humphry Davy in 1809. He also showed that an aluminum-iron alloy could be produced by the electrolysis of fused alumina in a hydrogen atmosphere, and that, on dissolving this alloy, Aluminum oxide could be recovered from the solution. .
             Aluminum was first produced in the year of 1825 by Hans Christian Oerstead, who was a Danish chemist. But it was not introduced to the public until 1855 at a Paris exposition. He obtained the metal by heating dry aluminum chloride with potassium metal. This element has many uses, from airplanes and soda pop cans to engines and electric conductors. Every family in America uses Aluminum on a daily basis. One of the major uses is for cooking utensils because of its high heat conductivity. .
             It never occurs in free form because it is too chemically reactive. Because of that level of chemical reactivity, Aluminum should not be very useful at all. It is obtained from the element Bauxite(Al2O3) and hydrated iron oxide(Fe2O 3). The boiling point is 2519 ̊ Celsius. Aluminum is in the Metals group. It has a density of 2.702g/cm3. In Aluminum, there are 13 Protons/Electron's and 14 Neutrons. Recycling Aluminum saves a lot of energy, because it is already in the metallic state.