Chapter 10, Problem 85E

In $1866$, a young chemistry student conceived the electrolytic method of obtaining aluminum from its oxide. This method is still used. ${\text{Δ}}_{\text{r}}\text{H}=1.97\times {10}^3\text{kJ}$ for the reaction $2{\text{Al}}_{\text{2}}{\text{O}}_{\text{3}}\left(\text{s}\right)+3\text{C}\left(\text{s}\right)\to 4\text{Al}\left(\text{s}\right)+3{\text{CO}}_{\text{2}}\left(\text{g}\right)$. The large amount of electrical energy required limits the process to areas of relatively inexpensive power. How many kilowatthours of energy are needed to produce $1\text{pound}\left(454\text{g}\right)$ of aluminum by this process, if $1\text{kw-hr}=\text{3}\text{.60}\times {10}^3\text{kJ}$?

Most residents of the United States use items made of aluminum on a daily basis.