Aluminium

 2.1

Aluminium is the most abundant metal in the earth’s crust, and the third most abundant
element overall.
Aluminium ore is called bauxite.
The bauxite is purified to produce aluminium oxide, a white powder from which aluminium can
be extracted.
Metals are found in ores combined in other elements. Electrolysis can be used to extract a
more reactive metal from the ore.
 The extraction is done by electrolysis. The ions in the aluminium oxide must be free to move
so that electricity can pass through it. Aluminium oxide has a very high melting point (over
2000°C) so it would be expensive to melt it. Aluminium oxide does not dissolve in water, but
it does dissolve in molten cryolite. This is an aluminium compound with a lower melting
point than aluminium oxide. The use of cryolite reduces some of the energy costs involved
in extracting aluminium.
Electrolysis For The Extraction Of
Aluminium
 The diagram shows an aluminium oxide electrolysis cell. The negative
electrodes (cathodes) and the positive electrodes (anodes) are made of
graphite, a form of carbon.
 During electrolysis:
 positively charged aluminium ions gain electrons from the cathode, and
form molten aluminium
 oxide ions lose electrons at the anode, and form oxygen molecules
 The oxygen reacts with the carbon in the electrodes, forming carbon
dioxide which bubbles off. Carbon is therefore lost from the positive
electrodes, so they must be replaced frequently. This adds to the cost of
the process.
Energy Consumption In The Production
Of Aluminium
 Aluminium is usually produced by extracted from bauxite, an ore made
from a mixture of aluminium hydroxide, iron oxide, titanium dioxide
and kaolinite.† Because it is so reactive aluminium cannot be extracted
economically using chemical processes; instead it is extracted by
electrolysis in the Hall-Héroult process.

 The Hall-Héroult process uses a huge amount of electricity; hundreds of
thousands of amperes are used in each cell and a single plant may contain
hundreds of cells connected in series. According to Alcoa, the world’s largest
producer of aluminium, the best smelters use about 13 kilowatt hours (46.8
megajoules) of electrical energy to produce one kilogram of aluminium; the
worldwide average is closer to 15 kWh/kg (54 MJ/kg).
 Worldwide production of aluminium in 2010 was 41.4 million tonnes. Using the
figures above this means that 621 billion kilowatt hours of electrical energy were
used in the production of aluminium. To put that in perspective, the total world
production of electrical energy was 20261 billion kilowatt hours, meaning that
more than 3% of the world’s entire electrical supply went to extraction of
aluminium.

2.2
Uses Of Aluminium
 Aluminium is a very useful metal; it is the most widely used non-ferrous* metal in
the world. It has a very low electrical resistance and a very good strength-to-
weight ratio and has therefore found many applications: from packaging in
drinks cans and foil wrapping to aeroplane parts and power lines.

 The most common uses of aluminum include:

• Transportation
• Construction
• Electrical
• Consumer Good
 Transportation
 Aluminum is used in transportation because of its unbeatable strength to weight
ratio. Its lighter weight means that less force is required to move the vehicle,
leading to greater fuel efficiency. Although aluminum is not the strongest metal,
alloying it with other metals helps to increase its strength. Its corrosion resistance
is an added bonus, eliminating the need for heavy and expensive anti-corrosion
coatings.
 Construction
 Buildings made with aluminum are virtually maintenance free due to
aluminum’s resistance to corrosion. Aluminum is also thermally efficient, which
keeps homes warm in winter and cool in summer. Add the fact that aluminum
has a pleasing finish and can be curved, cut and welded to any desired shape,
it allows modern architects unlimited freedom to create buildings that would be
impossible to make from wood, plastic, or steel.
 Electrical
 Although it has just 63% of the electrical conductivity of copper, aluminum’s low density
makes it the best option for long distance power lines. If copper was used, support
structures would be heavier, more numerous, and more expensive. Aluminum is also more
ductile than copper, enabling it to be formed into wires much more easily. Lastly, its
corrosion-resistance helps protect wires from the elements.
 Consumer Goods
 Aluminum’s appearance is the reason it is used frequently in consumer goods.

 Smartphones, tablets, laptops, and flat screen TVs are being made with an increasing
amount of aluminum. Its appearance makes modern tech gadgets look sleek and
sophisticated while being light and durable. It is the perfect combination of form and
function which is critical for consumer products. More and more, aluminum is replacing
plastic and steel components, as it is stronger and tougher than plastic and lighter than
steel. It also allows heat to dissipate quickly, keeping electronic devices from overheating.
The Environmental Impact Of
Aluminium
 As you have probably noticed, turning Bauxite into Aluminum requires a lot
of energy and has a variety of environmental impacts. Both dig open
underground mines that affect the plant and animal life immediately
surrounding an area and beyond for multiple generations.
 Even though aluminium itself is recyclable the toxicity of aluminium can limit
plant growth due to the development of acid in the soil. This can kill yields
of plants.
THE END