Aluminum is a very abundant
metal, and it has many uses. Aluminum comes from bauxite, an ore that looks
like clay. Bauxite by itself contains aluminum as well as other substances.
Workmen extract these other substances and then grind down the bauxite.
The bauxite is placed in a pressure tank while the other substances form
a mass. Once the mass is formed, they remove it through filters so that
only the liquid remains. Several other processes are performed, finally
yielding a chemical with a powdery white appearance. This chemical is known
as alumina, a mixture that contains aluminum and oxygen. Next the workmen
separate the aluminum and the oxygen by using electricity, finally producing
a metal. This metal's characteristics are that it is light, it has a bright,
silvery luster, and it comes in many forms. |