A for Aluminium

This is the first in the series of 26 posts this month, one post a day, barring four Sundays, each on a theme corresponding to a letter of the English alphabet. The theme this year is "Chemicals in our life", spurred by my interest in chemistry. Here we go.

Aluminium (or Aluminum in the US) is the third most abundant element on earth’s crust, after oxygen and silicon. It makes up about 8% of the earth's crust.

The symbol is Al, its atomic number is 13 (corresponding to the number of protons), and the atomic mass is 27 amu (Atomic mass units) 

It is silvery-white, lightweight, malleable (meaning it can be hammered or pressed into shape without breaking or cracking) and ductile (meaning it can be drawn out into a thin wire).

It has a melting point of approximately 660°C and a boiling point of around 2,460°C, which makes it a good conductor of heat and electricity.

It is found in minerals such as bauxite and cryolite, and it is extracted via a process that involves treating bauxite with sodium hydroxide and heating it.

It has a lot of applications mainly because it's very light and it's a good conductor of electricity. In Japan, the 1 yen coin is made of aluminium.  

Here are some uses of aluminium in our daily life:

1) Packaging: It's used for cans, foils, trays, and other products. It is recyclable and helps to keep food fresh.

2) Construction: It's a good material for windows, doors, siding, roofing, and other building materials. It is durable, corrosion-resistant, and can be easily shaped and manipulated.

3) Transportation: Aluminium is used in the manufacturing of cars, planes, boats, and bicycles. It is strong, and energy-efficient, making it an ideal material for vehicles.

4) Electrical wiring: Wiring made of aluminium is used in homes and buildings for electrical power transmission since it's a good conductor of electricity and is resistant to corrosion.

5) Outdoor furniture: The fact that the metal is weather-resistant, it finds wide application in outdoor furniture, like chairs, tables, etc.

6) Consumer electronics: The lightweight nature makes it a good candidate for use in devices like smartphones, laptops, cameras, and other electronic appliances, too.

7) Cookware: Since the metal conducts heat well, it's widely used in cookware.

Overall, aluminium is an essential metal that is used in various industries and applications, making our daily life more efficient and comfortable.

Images from Pixabay

The information provided in this post has been obtained from multiple, authentic resources. However, it is presented in an abridged format and might not have all the details. Therefore, before acting on any information, readers are requested to exercise caution and do further research.

This post is a part of #BlogchatterA2Z 2023. I am also on A2Z April Challenge.