| Aluminium metal is the most abundant in the earth's | | | | industry. This is more effective as the metal is |
| crust but found only in combination, chiefly as an ore | | | | non-toxic and aromaless. |
| called bauxite. It also occurs in gemstones such as | | | | Powdered aluminium is used in paint and also forms |
| topaz, garnet, ruby and sapphire. It is found | | | | an essential ingredient of the pyrotechnics like solid |
| combined in over 270 different minerals. The metal is | | | | rocket fuels. The combination of properties light |
| highly conductive and has great thermal properties | | | | weight and great strength makes it useful in |
| and these properties are used for the various needs | | | | construction industry like window, doors, street |
| of the industries. Aluminium is silvery-white in colour. | | | | lighting poles and sailing ship masts. |
| The metal is used in various industries like building and | | | | The highly conductive property of the metal makes it |
| construction, power transmission lines, | | | | ideal to be used in electrical transmission lines for |
| photoengraving plates, cookware and other | | | | power distribution, heat sinks for electronic appliances |
| consumer goods, tubes for ointments and pastes. | | | | such as transistors and CPU. About 1 kilogram of |
| Global production of aluminium in the year 2005 was | | | | aluminium conducts almost twice as much electricity |
| 31.9 million tonnes. This comes after iron consumption | | | | as 1 kilogram of copper. However, use of aluminium in |
| that was 837.5 million tonnes in the same year. | | | | household wiring has been found to be hazardous. |
| Pure aluminium has a low tensile strength, but if they | | | | Due to its ductile nature and corrosion resistance, the |
| are processed with proper heat and mechanics, they | | | | metal is used for electrical applications like TV aerials, |
| can be the strongest metal. Alloys formed with | | | | satellite dishes and is the standard base for bulbs. |
| copper, zinc, magnesium, manganese and silicon are | | | | Aluminium is a recyclable material and many products |
| used in various industries. | | | | can be made from the old form. Even the silver |
| Aluminium metal is extensively used in transportation | | | | helium balloons that are commonly seen in birthday |
| industry. The use in aircrafts and automobiles are | | | | parties are covered with a thin, evaporated coating |
| well-known. A wide range of household items ranging | | | | of aluminium metal over the tough plastic. |
| from cooking utensils to baseball bats and watches | | | | It is however, imperative to realize the fact that |
| are made of aluminium and its alloys. The consumer | | | | aluminium is a very reactive metal and in combination |
| electronics are enclosed in the shells made of | | | | with some food acids may produce more harm than |
| aluminium as they would not add to the weight of | | | | good. People sensitive to aluminium are prone to |
| the equipment. Aluminium is used for making drinking | | | | ulcers in the mouth, spasms of the foodpipe, gastric |
| cans, foil wrappings, bottle tops and foil containers | | | | ulcers, slow progressive vision impairment, skin rash |
| that are extensively used in food and beverage | | | | and itching, glandular dysfunctions or cancer. |