Aluminum is a common metallic element used in various products. It has a long history, with the pure form being isolated in 1827. The Hall-Heroult method is used to extract it from minerals. It is the third most common element in the earth’s crust and has many uses. However, it can be risky for those who work with it in high quantities, and some people may experience contact dermatitis.
Aluminum is an abundant metallic chemical element used extensively throughout the world for a wide range of products. Many consumers interact with some form of it on a daily basis, especially if they’re active in the kitchen. The element has atomic number 13, and is identified with the symbol Al on the periodic table of elements. It is classified as a poor metal, sharing the property of extreme malleability with metals such as tin and lead. The international standard spelling is aluminum.
The history of this element is actually quite ancient. Various shapes have been used for centuries; aluminum oxides, for example, appear in Ancient Egyptian ceramics and enamels. The Romans used it too, in the form of a substance they called alum. In 1800, Hans Christian Oersted isolated an impure form of the element, followed by Friedrich Wohler, who succeeded in isolating the pure form in 1827.
At first, scientists believed that this metal was extremely rare and difficult to extract, and at one point the metal was highly prized. Several sculptures from the 1800s illustrate this commonly held belief. In 1886, however, an American student named CM Hall and a Frenchman named Paul Herout developed a process for smelting ores to extract their precious aluminum. The Hall-Heroult method is now used extensively around the world to isolate the element from minerals such as bauxite.
Far from being rare, aluminum is in fact the third most common element in the earth’s crust, and it is the most common metallic element on Earth. In its pure form, it is silvery white and extremely light. The element melts easily to create light but very strong alloys and conducts both heat and electricity very well. It is also non-magnetic which can be a very useful property in some applications. The myriad uses for the metal and its compounds include automobile manufacturing, construction, paints, packaging, kitchenware, antacids, antiperspirants, and astringents.
While aluminum itself is not inherently toxic, the element has some risky aspects. People who work in high quantities of it can get sick, especially if they inhale the element. Children seem to be sensitive to this element, especially if their kidneys are not working well. It also appears to cause neuromuscular and skeletal problems, although the exact threshold of danger is not known. Studies of aluminum products have suggested they are safe for most consumers, although some people can experience contact dermatitis when handling products such as cookware, antiperspirants and antacids.
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