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Aluminum - The Lightweight Metal that Can’t Make up its Mind

Aluminum, with chemical symbol Al and atomic number 13, is a lightweight, silvery-white metal. Known for its countless uses, aluminum is an integral part of modern life.

But what’s the deal with aluminum? Is it a metal or not? It sure can’t make up its mind!

First discovered in 1825 by Danish physicist Hans Christian Oersted, aluminum was initially a curiosity due to its rarity, and was even considered more valuable than gold. It wasn’t until 1886 that the process of producing pure aluminum was perfected, making it more widely available.

Aluminum is a very reactive metal, but its specialized oxide layer protects it from corrosion. That’s great and all, but just what exactly makes aluminum so special? For starters, it’s lightweight and flexible, which makes it perfect for packaging materials, such as soda cans, foil wrap, and even car parts.

But wait, there’s more! Aluminum is also a great conductor of electricity, which explains its use in everything from household wiring to electronics. It’s an excellent thermal conductor too, which means it’s used for cooling computer parts, and for reflecting sunlight on modern buildings.

Oh, and did we mention it’s used in airplanes? That’s right, you’re flying in a giant aluminum tube right now! But that hasn’t always been the case. You see, planes have only been around since the early 1900s, and at the time aluminum was still a new and relatively unknown metal. Luckily, by the time World War II rolled around, aluminum was in wide use for aircraft manufacturing.

But despite all of its amazing uses, aluminum has had a bit of an identity crisis over the years. Despite being classified as a metal, aluminum is actually quite different from other metals. It’s not magnetic, has a lower melting point than many other metals, and is soft enough to be scratched with a fingernail.

So, there you have it. Aluminum, the lightweight indecisive metal that’s great for just about everything. Except deciding whether it’s really a metal or not.