Aluminum is a very useful and
abundant metal. It comes from bauxite, which is an ore that is similar
in appearance to clay. Aluminum is extracted from the bauxite, which contains
many other substances as well. The bauxite is ground up and placed in pressurized
tanks. The non-aluminum substances form a mass in the tanks and is then
removed. The remains are then filtered and a liquid is left. After several
more processes a powdery, white chemical called alumina remains. This alumina
is a mixture that contains aluminum and oxygen. The oxygen is then separated
from the aluminum by use of electricity. This process then yields a metal
with a bright, silvery luster that can be found in many different forms. |