It is the thirteenth element of the periodic table, with symbol Al and atomic mass 26.9815386. It is considered one of the most abundant materials on the earth's surface, representing 8% of the total crust.
It is present in many rocks, specifically in silicates, the most abundant group of minerals on the planet, in addition to bauxite, one of the few stones from which aluminum can be extracted in the form of metal, through the Bayer process. Among its most outstanding characteristics, it is found that it is highly resistant to corrosion, its low density, as well as the high conductivity it presents with respect to energy and heat.
It is a fairly cheap metal, making it one of the most used since the 20th century in industries. However, one of the obstacles when it comes to processing it is the incredible amount of electricity it needs, although this factor does not represent too many inconveniences, since it is a material that is easily recycled, in addition to having a long useful life. In ancient times, it was also used as a salt, in medicinal fields and in cleaning clothes. With the arrival of the 19th century, Sir Humphrey Davy proposed the name “aluminum”, later becoming “aluminum” .
The extraction techniques of aluminum began to improve for several decades, so it is no longer a daunting task as removing it from the bauxite. These supposed a decrease with respect to the appreciation that the metal had, since its price fell and it became a common metal.
