Aluminum is an abundant metal
that has many uses. Aluminum comes from an ore called bauxite that looks
like clay. Bauxite contains aluminum and several other substances, which
are extracted by workmen. These workmen grind the bauxite and place it
into tanks that have pressure in them. The other substances form a mass
which is filtered out and a liquid remains. It is put through several other
processes and it finally yields a white, powdery chemical called alumina.
Alumina is a mixture that contains aluminum and oxygen. The workmen
then use electricity to seperate the aluminum from the oxygen, which produces
a light metal. This metal has a bright, silvery luster and it comes in
many forms. |