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Aluminum (Basic Info (Group/Atomic Number: 13, Period: 3, Density: 2.70…
Aluminum
Basic Info
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Aluminum is ductile, malleable, lightweight, strong and durable ("Aluminum").
Impacts
Economic: The aluminum industry contributes $174 billion to the US economy. Aluminum is one of the few materials that effects everybody and lead to 700 000 American jobs.
Because aluminum is strong, lightweight and recyclable, it's suited for many needs and challenges in the 21st century. It increases vehicle fuel efficiency, green building products and sustainable packaging ("The Economic").
Environmental: Turning Bauxite into Aluminum has one of the biggest negative environmental impacts. Open and underground mines effect the plant and animal life in the area. Cutting trees and grassland contributes to habitat-loss and biodiversity-loss. The refining process use levels of electricity and water which can cause higher carbon emission and create air and water pollution.
Aluminum also has positive economical impacts such as it can be recycled. 75% of all the aluminum created in the US is still in use. It is also lightweight and conducts heat well. Aluminum gets recycled very quickly and your soda can can become another soda can in two months ("The Environmental").
Use of metal
Aluminum is used in a large variety of products including cans, kitchen utensils, foils and other products ("Most Common").
There are also much bigger products that are made of aluminum such as cars, refrigerators, computers and more ("Uses of Aluminum").
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How it is found/mined
Aluminum originates from Bauxite, which is an ore typically found in subtropical regions. Once mined, the aluminum in the bauxite is attracted into alumina. This happens through the Bayer Process. Once it's extracted, it is smelted into pure aluminum metal. This happens through the Hall- Hérault process ("Primary Production").
Bayer Process: The bauxite is heated in a pressure vessel with sodium hydroxide at a very high temperature(150°C - 200°C). With the high temperature, aluminum dissolves as sodium aluminate ("Alumina Refining").
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