Production
This is the first step in the aluminum refinement process, where ore is heated and dissolved under pressure in sodium hydroxide
Bayer process
This property is a ratio of a material's strength to its mass density; in this regard, aluminum outperforms steel
Specific strength
Due to aluminum's ability to be stamped into shapes and its comparatively low density, it is increasingly replacing this metal in the automotive industry
Steel
This property of red mud makes it an environmental hazard on par with household bleach if stored incorrectly
Alkalinity
Neutral aluminum has this number of valence electrons
3 valence electrons
These two oxides are the primary targets for removal during the Bayer process
Iron and silicon oxides
This property of aluminum makes it preferable to plain carbon steel in applications such as marine vessels, beverage cans, and eating utensils
Corrosion resistance
In this application, aluminum is more optimal than copper because of its combination of light weight and good electrical conductivity
Power lines
DOUBLE JEOPARDY
Coating the cathode with this titanium-containing compound during the Hall-Heroult process increases the efficiency of aluminum production
Titanium diboride (TiB2)
FCC (face-centered cubic)
This is the second step in the aluminum refinement process, named after the two people who discovered it independently in 1886
Hall-Heroult process
This property is the degree of plastic deformation before fracture; it can be measured with percent elongation or percent reduction in cross-sectional area
Ductility
Alloying aluminum with this alkali metal produces alloys that are lightweight and stiff, but very expensive
Lithium
This amount of bauxite is required to produce 1 ton of pure aluminum metal
3.5-4 tons
This country is the world's top producer of aluminum, with a 55% share of global production
China
In the second step of refinement, this compound is formed by oxidizing the consumable anode of the electrolytic reduction cell
Carbon dioxide (CO2)
Although aluminum is the third most abundant element in Earth's crust, extraction is difficult and primarily carried out on this one ore
Bauxite
The formation of this compound on aluminum's surface protects the bulk metal from corrosion when used in marine applications
Aluminum oxide (Al2O3)
The production of 1 ton of aluminum metal via the Hall-Heroult process produces this many tons of carbon dioxide
8 tons
Aluminum is the third most abundant element in Earth's crust, only exceeded in weight percent by these two elements
The addition of this substance during the second step in aluminum refinement is for the purpose of reducing the melting temperature and increasing electrical conductivity
Cryolite (hexafluoroaluminate, Na3AlF6)
In this regard, aluminum only has about two thirds the ability of copper, but around five times that of plain steel
Electrical conductivity
Before the invention of airplanes, aluminum was used for the frames of these flying machines
Zeppelins
Recycling aluminum requires about this percent of the energy needed to produce new aluminum
5%
Due to its ability to react as both a Lewis acid and Lewis base, aluminum oxide can be classified as this type of compound
Amphoteric