- Aluminium was discovered in 1825 by the Danish physicist Hans Christian Ørsted.
- The name “aluminium” derives from the Latin word “alumen” (Alaun).
- Aluminium is the third most abundant chemical element and the most abundant metal in the Earth’s crust.
- In 1827, the German chemist Friedrich Wöhler first succeeded in extracting pure aluminium in powder form. In this form, it was more expensive than gold at the time.
- Aluminium has been produced in the form known today only since the mid-19th century.
- Along with the original production of aluminium from bauxite, the recycling of aluminium waste also contributes significantly to aluminium production.
- Aluminium is easy to form and work.
Defining characteristics of aluminium:
- it is a shiny, silvery-white metal,
- it is non-magnetic and soft,
- unlike most other metals, it has a low density – it is “lightweight”,
- it is a good electric current and heat conductor,
- it is easy to forge and make thin (can be rolled to very thin foils),
- it is non-toxic,
- it is resistant to many acids, but not to seawater and lyes,
- in pure form, it is not particularly strong; its mechanical strength can be enhanced by alloying with other metals.