Aluminium and Americium
Aluminium and Americium
Occurrence/Production
The element makes up about 8 % of the earth's crust. This makes it the most abundant metal - chemistry question solver - it occurs more frequently than iron, for example (approx. 6 %). In nature, it is found in oxygen-containing compounds and e.g. in feldspars and mica. The best-known aluminium mineral is bauxite, which is extracted exclusively in open-cast mines. Mining-worthy bauxite deposits are found in Brazil, China, Australia, New Guinea, West Africa and India. Today, aluminium is produced by fused-salt electrolysis. This makes production very energy-intensive.
Use
Pure aluminium is used, among other things, for components in electrical appliances as electric cables and in articles of daily use. In alloys with metals such as copper, nickel or zinc, it is used as a material mainly in vehicle, ship and aircraft construction. In the building industry, alloys are used, for example, as window and door profiles, facade cladding, for roofs and fittings. We also use aluminium in the household as aluminium foil.
Important compounds
- Aluminium oxide (corundum - abrasive)
- Acetic alumina (contains aluminium acetate - used in medicine)
- Potassium alum (potassium aluminium alum - haemostatic agent)
- Aluminium sulphate (tanning, paper manufacture)
Construction
Aluminium crystallises in a face-centred cubic metal lattice.
Americium
Americium is a reactive, silvery, ductile heavy metal. It is the 6th element of the actinoids. The metal dissolves easily in acids and predominantly forms compounds with oxidation state III, but red-yellow Am4 +- ions, which are not stable in aqueous solution, and yellow AmO2 +- ions are also known. Americium is formed in kilogram quantities from 241Pu in nuclear reactions. Some compounds serve special purposes in technology and medicine.