Aluminum
Real Metals · Common · Modern
The most abundant metal in Earth's crust and one of the defining materials of the modern age. Though always present in the earth, aluminum was so difficult to extract that for a brief period in the 19th century it was more valuable than gold.
Identity
- Symbol
- Al
- Atomic number
- 13
- Source
- Natural element
- Used in
- Duralumin
- Aliases
- Aluminium, Al
Physical Properties
- Appearance
- Bright silver-white, lightweight, develops a thin protective oxide layer immediately on exposure to air
- Luster
- Metallic
- Density
- 2.7 g/cm³
- Melting point
- 660 °C
- Boiling point
- 2519 °C
- Lighter
- Nth Metal
- Denser
- Duralumin
- Magnetism
- Non-magnetic
- Electrical conductivity
- High
Mechanical Properties
- Mohs hardness
- 2.5
- Tensile strength
- 90 MPa
- Softer
- Tin
- Harder
- Brass
- Workability
- Easy
- Brittleness
- Moderate
- Malleability
- High
- Ductility
- High
Chemical Properties
- Corrosion resistance
- high
- Reactivity
- moderate
Lore & Narrative
Napoleon III served his most honored guests on aluminum plates while lesser guests used gold and silver. The Washington Monument was capped with aluminum in 1884 as a symbol of prestige and technological achievement.
- Notable uses
- Aircraft, packaging, construction, transportation, electronics
- Forge uses
- construction, transportation, packaging
- Worldbuilding traits
- lightweight, modern, ubiquitous, recyclable
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