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aluminum [Al]
From the Latin alumen meaning alum. Discovered in 1825 by Danish chemist Hans Christian Oersted
Occurrence:
1) the most abundant metal in the earth's crust,
2) always occurs in combination with other elements
3) nearly all of the world's aluminum is obtained by isolation from aluminum oxide (Al2O3), derived from bauxite ore
Characteristics:
1) blueish silver-white malleable ductile light trivalent metallic element with:
a) good electrical & thermal conductivity
b) high reflectivity (radiation)
2) resistance to oxidation derives from thin, transparent coating of aluminum oxide
Uses:
1) used to make cans, kegs, wrapping foil & household utensils
2) manufacture of motor vehicles
3) aircraft
4) construction
Laboratory:
- aluminum in specimen
- aluminum in air
- aluminum in hair
- aluminum in water
- aluminum in tissue
- aluminum in erythrocytes
- aluminum in body fluid
- aluminum in blood
- aluminum in CSF
- aluminum in dialysis fluid
- aluminum in serum/plasma
- aluminum in urine
Related
Al+3 (aluminum ion)
periodic table
Specific
yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG)
General
chemical element
metal
Properties
SIZE: AW = 26.982
atomic number
VALUE: 13
VALENCE: NE 3S2 3P2
Database Correlations
PUBCHEM cid=14488
References
- Webster's Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary, Miriam-
Webster Inc. Springfield, MA 1990
- Chemical & Engineering News, Sept 8, 2003