Aluminium (Al)

The element
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HISTORY
a. NAME: Latin origin alumen meaning “alum”, an astringent and dyeing mordant

b. PLACE IN PERIODIC TABLE: It belongs to group III-A and is a member of the p-

block elements of the periodic table.

c. DISCOVERY: Aluminium was first discovered by Humphrey Davy in 1807 and first
produced in 1827 by Hans Oersted, who fused potassium with the anhydrous
chloride of aluminium in a closed crucible, obtaining the metal in the form of a gray
powder. Afterwards Friedrich Wohler improved this method and succeeded in
procuring the metal in a purer form in fused globules and in determining its specific
gravity. In 1854 Henri Sainte-Claire Deville tried the same process, but replaced the
potassium by sodium, and the ‘silver made from clay’ of the Paris exhibition of 1855
drew much attention to the question of its economical production. However, no
easy way could be found to produce it, and the shiny new metal became more
precious than gold. Napoleon is said to have had a set of aluminium cutlery made
for his most honored guests.
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PHYSICAL PROPERTIES

a. ATOMIC NUMBER: 13
b. SYMBOL: Al
c. COLOUR: Silver-white.
d. DENSITY: 2.70 gcm −3
e. ELECTRONIC CON FIGURATION: [Ne] 3s2 3p1

f. IONIZATION ENERGY: 577 kJ/ mol

g. ELECTRON AFFINITY: 45 kJ/ mol
h. ELECTRONEGATIVITY: 1.5
i. ATOMIC RADIUS: 125 pm
j. IONIC RADIUS OF 3+ ions : 52 pm
k. MELTING POINT: 660 oC
l. BOILING POINT: 2467 oC
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CHEMICAL PROPERTIES
a. Aluminium is a trivalent metal.
b. It is amphoteric in nature ,i.e. it acts as an acid when reacts with some
base and vice versa:
2Al + dil.6HCl → 2AlCl 3 + 3H2
2Al + conc.6H 2SO4 → Al2(SO4)3 +
6H2O + 2SO2 2Al + 2NaOH + 6H 2O →
2NaAl(OH)4 + 3H2
c. It forms covalent hydrides:
2Al + 3H2 → 2AlH3
d. Aluminium in powder form reacts with air on heating it up to 800oC with
evolution of heat and light:
4Al + 3O2 → 2Al2O3
2Al + N 2 → 2AlN
e. Heated Aluminium reacts with halogens, sulfur, nitrogen, phosphorus and
carbon accompanying heat evolution:
2Al + 3Cl2 → 2AlCl3
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IMPORTANT COMPOUNDS AND THEIR USES

a. Aluminium fluorosilicate (Al2(SiF6)3) is used in the production of synthetic gemstones,

a. glass
Aluminium NAMES
ammonium sulfate ([Al(NH4)](SO4)2),FORMULAS
and ceramic. ammonium alum is used as a mordant, in
b. Aluminium hydroxide
water purification and(Al(OH)
sewage 3) is used: as an
treatment, in antacid, as a mordant,
paper production, as ainfood
water purification,
additive, and in
leather
in the a. tanning.
Bauxite of glass and ceramic and in the
manufacture Al 2O 3.2H2O
waterproofing of fabrics.
b. Aluminium
c. acetate
oxide (Alis2Oa3salt
b. Feldspar used inissolution
), alumina, as an
K 2astringent.
found naturally as corundum
O.Al (rubies and sapphires),
2O3.SiO3
c. Aluminium borate
emery,c.andMica
is used (Al O3 B2O
in 2glass 3) is used
making. in the production
Synthetic ruby of glass and ceramic.
(Muscovite) KH2and sapphire
Al3(SiO 4 )3
are used in lasers for the
d. Aluminium
production borohydride
of coherent (Al(BH 4)3) is as
light. Used used as an additive
a refractory, to jet fuel.
essential for the production of high
d.
e. pressure
Aluminium Kaolin
sodium
bronze (clay)
lamps.
(CuAl5) Al O
2 3 .2SIO 2 .2H 2O
d. e. Corundum
f. Aluminium phosphate
chloride (AlPO
(AlCl Al 2O3
) is used in the manufacture:
3) is4used: in paint manufacturing,
of
in glass and ceramic,
antiperspirants, in pulp and
petroleum
paper f.products,
refining cosmetics,
Emerald
and in the production paints and varnishes
of synthetic Aland
rubber. in making dental cement.
2F2SiO4
e.
g. Aluminium sulfate (Al2(SO4)3)isis used:
chlorohydrate
g. Gibbisite used inastheanmanufacture
Al(OH)3 of paper,
antiperspirant and asina mordant, in a fireof
the treatment
extinguisher,
hyperhidrosis. in water purification and sewage treatment, as a food additive, in
h. Cryolite
fireproofing, and in leather tanning.
Na 3AlF6
a. Aqueous Aluminium ions (such as found in aqueous Aluminium Sulfate) are use to
treat against fish parasites such as Gyrodactylus salaris.
f. In many vaccines, certain aluminium salts serve as an immune adjuvant (immune
response booster) to allow the protein in the vaccine to achieve sufficient potency as an
immune stimulant.
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SOURCES OF ALUMINIUM

In the Earth's crust, aluminium is the most abundant (8.3% by weight) metallic element and the
Bauxite occurs as a weathering product of low iron and silica bedrock in tropical climatic
third most abundant of all elements (after oxygen and silicon). Although aluminium is an
conditions. Large deposits of bauxite occur in Australia, Brazil, Guinea and Jamaica but the
extremely common and widespread element, the common aluminium minerals are not
primary mining areas for the ore are in Ghana, Indonesia, Jamaica, Russia and Surinam. Smelting
economic sources of the metal. Almost all metallic aluminium is produced from the ore bauxite
of the ore mainly occurs in Australia, Brazil, Canada, Norway, Russia and the United States.
(AlOx(OH)3-2x).
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EXTRACTION OF ALUMINIUM
The method now used for its
commercial production is the
electrolysis of alumina. An iron
pot, lined with carbon, is
charged with Cryolite and
heated to about 800°C/1,470°F
by the electric current. For the
electrolysis, a bundle of carbon
rods is used as the anode, while
the pot itself forms the cathode.
The oxygen liberated combines
with the carbon of the anode to
form carbon dioxide, while the
aluminium falls to the bottom of
the vessel. More alumina is
added and the process
continued, the molten metal
being drawn off from time to
time
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BIBLIOGRAPHY

PUNJAB TEXTBOOK FOR CHEMISTRY – 12

www.schoolscience.co.uk
PUNJABwww.en.wikipedia.org
www.schoolscience.co.uk
www.thefreedictionary.com
TEXTBOOK
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FOR CHEMISTRY -12
www.en,wikipedia.org
www.about.com
www.thefreedictionary.com

STUDENTS NAME: Arooba Ali

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