The Elements: Aluminium

Aluminium is highly reactive and does not occur naturally in pure form. It is found in compounds like alum and alumina. Initially, aluminium was more valuable than gold due to the difficulty and cost of extraction. New methods have reduced costs, making aluminium widely used in alloys for construction and aerospace. Aluminium is also used in packaging. It can be recycled indefinitely, requiring 95% less energy than new extraction, with 75% of all extracted aluminium still in use today.

Why is aluminium usually combined with other metals?

What are the advantages of aluminium alloys in construction and aerospace?