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Why is aluminium a popular choice for large power transmission lines?
Why is aluminium a popular choice for large power transmission lines?
What is the primary reason for the corrosion resistance of aluminium?
What is the primary reason for the corrosion resistance of aluminium?
Which of the following is NOT a benefit of using aluminium for packaging?
Which of the following is NOT a benefit of using aluminium for packaging?
What is the primary ore from which aluminium is extracted?
What is the primary ore from which aluminium is extracted?
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What is the name of the process used to purify bauxite?
What is the name of the process used to purify bauxite?
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What is the main byproduct of the Bayer process?
What is the main byproduct of the Bayer process?
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Why is the recycling of aluminium considered environmentally friendly?
Why is the recycling of aluminium considered environmentally friendly?
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Which of the following is a commonly used surface treatment to enhance the corrosion resistance of aluminium?
Which of the following is a commonly used surface treatment to enhance the corrosion resistance of aluminium?
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What is the primary method used to extract aluminium from alumina?
What is the primary method used to extract aluminium from alumina?
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What is the role of cryolite in the aluminium smelting process?
What is the role of cryolite in the aluminium smelting process?
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What is the primary environmental concern associated with aluminium production?
What is the primary environmental concern associated with aluminium production?
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What is the primary benefit of recycling aluminium?
What is the primary benefit of recycling aluminium?
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Why is it important to rehabilitate open-cut mine sites used for bauxite extraction?
Why is it important to rehabilitate open-cut mine sites used for bauxite extraction?
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What is the approximate ratio of bauxite to alumina required for aluminium production?
What is the approximate ratio of bauxite to alumina required for aluminium production?
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Which of these applications is NOT a common use of aluminium?
Which of these applications is NOT a common use of aluminium?
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What is the primary reason for the increasing use of aluminium in various industries?
What is the primary reason for the increasing use of aluminium in various industries?
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What is NOT a benefit of using aluminum in consumer products?
What is NOT a benefit of using aluminum in consumer products?
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Which of these industries DOES NOT utilize aluminum in its products?
Which of these industries DOES NOT utilize aluminum in its products?
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What is a key characteristic of aluminum that makes it popular for electronic devices?
What is a key characteristic of aluminum that makes it popular for electronic devices?
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Which of the following is NOT a metal that Metal Supermarkets supplies?
Which of the following is NOT a metal that Metal Supermarkets supplies?
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What is the primary reason aluminum cans have become a popular choice for packaging beverages?
What is the primary reason aluminum cans have become a popular choice for packaging beverages?
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What advantage does aluminum offer over steel in building construction?
What advantage does aluminum offer over steel in building construction?
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Why is aluminum used in airplanes and spacecraft despite its lower strength compared to steel?
Why is aluminum used in airplanes and spacecraft despite its lower strength compared to steel?
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What is the main reason for using aluminum in long-distance power lines?
What is the main reason for using aluminum in long-distance power lines?
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Which of the following is NOT a reason for the popularity of aluminum in modern consumer goods?
Which of the following is NOT a reason for the popularity of aluminum in modern consumer goods?
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What role did the Empire State Building play in the widespread adoption of aluminum?
What role did the Empire State Building play in the widespread adoption of aluminum?
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Which of the following properties of aluminum contributes to its suitability for use in both buildings and aircraft?
Which of the following properties of aluminum contributes to its suitability for use in both buildings and aircraft?
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Which of the following is a common use of aluminum in consumer electronics?
Which of the following is a common use of aluminum in consumer electronics?
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What property of aluminum makes it ideal for use in spacecraft?
What property of aluminum makes it ideal for use in spacecraft?
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What percentage of annual aluminum consumption is used in applications like ladders, gas cylinders, and sporting goods?
What percentage of annual aluminum consumption is used in applications like ladders, gas cylinders, and sporting goods?
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Which of the following is NOT a typical form in which aluminum is supplied?
Which of the following is NOT a typical form in which aluminum is supplied?
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What is the main reason aluminum is becoming more popular in the transportation industry?
What is the main reason aluminum is becoming more popular in the transportation industry?
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Which of the following is an application of aluminum that accounts for approximately 85% of annual consumption?
Which of the following is an application of aluminum that accounts for approximately 85% of annual consumption?
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What is the term for a form of rolled metal between the thicknesses of 'sheet' and 'plate', typically referring to thicknesses of 3mm to 10mm?
What is the term for a form of rolled metal between the thicknesses of 'sheet' and 'plate', typically referring to thicknesses of 3mm to 10mm?
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What is the approximate percentage of energy required to recycle scrap aluminum compared to the energy needed to produce new aluminum?
What is the approximate percentage of energy required to recycle scrap aluminum compared to the energy needed to produce new aluminum?
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What is the relationship between the use of aluminum in transportation and fuel efficiency?
What is the relationship between the use of aluminum in transportation and fuel efficiency?
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What is the primary reason for using recycled aluminium?
What is the primary reason for using recycled aluminium?
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What is the primary reason for alloying aluminium with other elements?
What is the primary reason for alloying aluminium with other elements?
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Which of the following is NOT a major advantage of using aluminium?
Which of the following is NOT a major advantage of using aluminium?
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How does the strength-to-weight ratio of aluminium compare to steel?
How does the strength-to-weight ratio of aluminium compare to steel?
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What percentage of the earth's crust is made up of aluminium?
What percentage of the earth's crust is made up of aluminium?
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What is the approximate amount of new aluminium produced globally each year?
What is the approximate amount of new aluminium produced globally each year?
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What is the approximate difference in energy consumption between producing 1 tonne of new aluminium and recycling 1 tonne of aluminium?
What is the approximate difference in energy consumption between producing 1 tonne of new aluminium and recycling 1 tonne of aluminium?
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What is the approximate boiling point of aluminium in degrees Celsius?
What is the approximate boiling point of aluminium in degrees Celsius?
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Study Notes
Aluminium Properties & Uses
- Aluminium is the world's third most abundant metal, comprising 8% of Earth's crust.
- Its versatility makes it the most widely used metal after steel.
- Aluminium compounds have been used for millennia, but aluminium metal production began around 170 years ago.
- Global demand for aluminium currently stands at about 29 million tons annually.
- 22 million tons of new aluminium are produced per year, while 7 million tons of recycled aluminium scrap is used.
Aluminium Melting & Boiling Points
- Melting point: 660.323°C, 1220.581°F, 933.473 K
- Boiling point: 2519°C, 4566°F, 2792 K
- Density: 2.70 g cm⁻³
Recycling Aluminium
- Recycling aluminium is economically and environmentally advantageous.
- It only requires 5% of the energy to recycle one tonne of aluminium compared to 14,000 kWh needed to produce a new tonne.
- Recycling aluminium maintains its quality, not impacting its properties as compared to virgin aluminium.
Aluminium Properties
- Pure aluminium is soft, ductile (can be drawn into wires), corrosion-resistant, and a good electrical conductor.
- Alloying with other elements increases its strength.
- Aluminium's high strength-to-weight ratio makes it a lightweight but strong engineering material.
Aluminium Applications
- Packaging: Used extensively in food packaging (especially beverage cans), making up around 15% of global consumption.
- Construction: Commonly used in buildings, roofing, windows, cladding, doors, shop fronts, and even in industrial flooring for its durability and ease of use.
- Transportation: Used in aircraft, trains, ships, automobiles, and various other vehicles due to its light weight and strength.
- Electrical Systems: A major material for long-distance power lines due to its great conductivity and relatively low weight compared to copper which significantly lowers costs of support structures and materials.
- Consumer goods: smartphones, tablets, laptops, flat screen TVs, to name a few, are increasingly made of aluminium, thanks to a combination of its visual appeal and its properties.
Aluminium Production
- Aluminium is extracted from the principal ore, bauxite.
- Major sources of bauxite include Australia, the Caribbean islands, Africa, China, and South America.
- The Bayer process purifies bauxite to produce alumina. Iron and titanium oxides, or red mud, are byproducts of the process.
Aluminium Smelting
- Aluminium smelting is a process that uses electrolysis to extract the metal from alumina.
- The smelting process happens in a large pot (cell or furnace) lined with carbon acting as a cathode.
- The process requires cryolite (sodium aluminium fluoride) and high temperatures (950°C) to dissolve the alumina in the cryolite bath. Electrolysis is the process of separating the metal using high amperages.
Environmental Concerns
- The aluminium industry is aware of the environmental effects of its activities.
- Initiatives include rehabilitating open-cut mine sites, restoring flora and fauna, and using specialist scrubbing systems to manage emissions.
- Improvements in red mud disposal methods.
Various Forms of Aluminium
- Aluminium is available in various forms, including round bar, square bar, square box section, rectangular box section, channel, tee section, equal and unequal angles, flat bar, tube, sheet, stucco sheet, shate (3mm-10mm thickness), plate, 5-bar treadplate, and rice grain treadplate.
Recycling Percentage
- Globally, about 60% of aluminium is recycled. This is still an area for improvement.
- Recycling aluminium uses only 5% of the energy needed to produce virgin aluminium.
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Description
Test your knowledge on aluminium production, its properties, and the environmental impacts associated with its extraction and recycling. This quiz covers various aspects, including the processes involved in aluminium production and its benefits as a material.