What is Aluminum obtained commercially from?

Answer 1

Alumin(i)um is mined principally as the ore bauxite. It is processed at smelters with high electrical current. For this reason, aluminum smelters are usually located near hydroelectric plants, such as in Quebec, Canada, where hydroelectric power is abundant.

Aluminium forms very strong chemical bonds with oxygen which makes it more difficult to extract from ore than most metals. It is not possible to reduce it with carbon. Another problem is the high melting point of most of its ores - principally bauxite. For example, direct reduction with carbon, as is used to produce iron, is not chemically possible because aluminium is a stronger reducing agent than carbon.

The Hall-Héroult process, is thus used and is the major industrial process for aluminium extraction. Molten cryolite is first used to dissolve alumina and along with calcium fluoride is then electrolytically reduced to aluminium. Cryolite is Na3AlF6

Both of the electrodes used in the electrolysis of aluminium oxide are made from carbon. The cathodic reaction is Al3+ + 3e− ------> Al

The aluminium metal then sinks to the bottom of the cell and is tapped off and cast into large blocks called billets. These may be processed further as necessary.

At the anode, oxygen is formed 2O 2− ------> O2 + 4e−

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Answer 2

mines , or underground

Answer 3

Mainly from an ore called bauxite.

Answer 4

bauxite