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because they make most all of the alluminum used

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Why was aluminum more expensive than gold in 1886?

Aluminum does not occur in nature as a solid metal. It is produced by man in several processes which require lots of energy. These processes were not invented until the 1880's. So, until then, aluminum was scarcer than gold and therefore more expensive.


Why was aluminium more expensive than gold at one time in the past?

In the late 19th century, aluminum was considered a precious metal due to its rarity and the complexity of its extraction process. At that time, the primary method for producing aluminum was costly and labor-intensive, making it more expensive than gold. The invention of the Hall-Héroult process in 1886, which allowed for more efficient and cheaper extraction, eventually led to a dramatic decrease in aluminum prices, making it widely available. This shift transformed aluminum from a luxury material into a common commodity.


Which costs more aluminum or steel?

For homework: Aluminum is about 7 times more expensive than steel. A full answer: Basically: Aluminum is more expensive. And during 2011 is expected to go higher, because of less demand. Although the price of steel is constantly on the raise. BUT, in some cases making things from steel can turn out to be more expensive. Like boats. But again, in the usual case Aluminum is more expensive. How much more expensive depends: There are different kinds of steel. Also, it depends on how much material you'll need. Sometimes a small amount of aluminum will suffice for a much larger amount (in weight) of steel you would need for the same task. In that case making your project from aluminum will cost less than from steel. But the raw cost of steel is still cheaper than that of aluminum. (The reason is that aluminum, although more "abundant" - meaning found more on the surface of earth, is harder and therefore more expensive to retrieve). The most significant cost difference, is the cost of work: tools, knowledge and the price for fixing mistakes. Working with aluminum is much more expensive than steel. In 2002 (before the price rise of steel) it was 4.2 times more expensive to make a car from aluminum, than from steel. But then a comparison by a boat maker shows that its EASIER to work with aluminum, if you use its features to your advantage: (No need to paint submerged parts, build without bending, use standard profiles etc.) and easier to sell. And then it depends if you need to use new material or can use scrap. Today (March 2011) iron ore (the main part for making steel) is 4 and a half cents per pound, while aluminum is a dollar and 14 cents! 0.045 vs 1.14. That's Aluminum over 25 times more expensive than iron. (But then again, steel is about 3.5 times more expensive than iron, so aluminum is about 7.2 times more expensive now. Please understand that a shortage (like the one during the Chinese Olympics a few years ago) can make the price of steel rocket up, and change everything. So you never know what will be. But currently, Aluminum is more expensive. By the way, Mary Antoinette had a set of cutlery (knife, fork and spoons) from aluminum, that was at that time just discovered, and more expensive than silver.


How expensive is aluminum?

69 dollars a pound


Was aluminum worth more than gold?

Up until the late 1800's, Aluminum was extremely valuable due to the fact that it was very hard to procure. As an example of just how prized a metal it was, Napoleon Bonaparte was said to have a special set of aluminum utensils only to be used by his most esteemed guests. His gold utensils were for more casual occasions! Also, atop the Washington Monument sits an almost 3 kg pyramid of aluminum, placed as a symbol of how strong and wealthy the U.S. was. In 1886, the Hall-Heroult process was invented as cost-effective way to produce aluminum. Since then, the value of aluminum has been significantly reduced.

Related Questions

Why did Napoleon 3 use aluminum dinnerware?

Aluminum used to be more expensive than gold. In Napoleon's time the chemists hadn't discovered a good way to purify aluminum so pure aluminum was expensive and rare. Aluminum used to be a status symbol because it was more expensive and rarer than gold.


Why is gold more expensive than aluminum?

More rare stronger and better looking


Why was aluminum more expensive than gold in 1886?

Aluminum does not occur in nature as a solid metal. It is produced by man in several processes which require lots of energy. These processes were not invented until the 1880's. So, until then, aluminum was scarcer than gold and therefore more expensive.


Why alumminium was more expensive than gold when first discovered?

Aluminum was more expensive than gold when first discovered because it was difficult to extract pure aluminum from its ore using available technology at the time. This made the process of producing aluminum costly compared to gold. However, with advancements in technology, aluminum became easier and cheaper to produce, leading to a decrease in its cost over time.


Why is gold so expensive and aluminum is so cheap?

Gold is much more dearer these days because there is less of it then aluminum. Also aluminum is a renewable source that can be used infinite amount of times. Aluminium is used more in daily life and gold is used for flourishing fashion accessories.But if we actually counted the amount of times aluminum is used then it would be most expensive.


What is the difference between aluminum foil and gold foil?

Gold foil is a very thin sheet of gold used for art and craft projects. It is so thin that it breaks if you handle it too roughly. Aluminum foil is made to seal or cover items and is thick and bendable.


Why was aluminium more expensive than gold at one time in the past?

In the late 19th century, aluminum was considered a precious metal due to its rarity and the complexity of its extraction process. At that time, the primary method for producing aluminum was costly and labor-intensive, making it more expensive than gold. The invention of the Hall-Héroult process in 1886, which allowed for more efficient and cheaper extraction, eventually led to a dramatic decrease in aluminum prices, making it widely available. This shift transformed aluminum from a luxury material into a common commodity.


What takes more space a kilogram of gold or a kilogram of aluminum?

aluminum


Why does a kilogram of aluminum have more volume than a kilogram of gold?

Aluminum has a lower density than gold, meaning the same mass of aluminum takes up more space compared to gold. Therefore, a kilogram of aluminum will occupy more volume than a kilogram of gold due to the difference in their densities.


Is aluminum reactive than gold?

Yes, aluminum is more reactive than gold. Aluminum is more prone to oxidation and reacts readily with oxygen in the air, whereas gold is a noble metal and does not easily react with other elements.


Why is copper more expensive than gold?

You are wrong. Copper is NOT more expensive than gold.


Why is gold more expensive than iron?

gold is more expensive than iron simply because iron is more common and gold is also a purer metal