Given the abundance of aluminum in the Earth’s crust, explain why it is more expensive than steel.

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Answer 1

Textbook Question

Chapter 6, Problem 1RQ

Given the abundance of aluminum in the Earth’s crust, explain why it is more expensive than steel.

Expert Solution & Answer

To determine

Given the abundance of aluminum in the Earth’s crust, explain why it is more expensive than steel

Explanation of Solution

Aluminum, being an abundant metallic element, makes up about 8% of the Earth’s crust.

Bauxite serves as the principal ore for aluminum, and is a hydrous (water-containing) aluminum oxide containing various other oxides.

At first, clay and dirt is washed off from the ore. Then the ore is crushed into powder and treated with hot caustic soda (sodium hydroxide) to remove the remaining impurities. Next, extraction of alumina (aluminum oxide) takes place from this solution which is dissolved in a molten sodium-fluoride and aluminum-fluoride bath at a temperature of about 940◦ to 980◦C (1725◦ to 1800◦F).

Then, direct-current electrolysis of this mixture is performed. Aluminum metal is formed at the cathode (negative pole), and oxygen is gathered at the anode (positive pole). Commercially, 99.99% pure aluminum can be obtained. Aluminum production consumes a lot of electricity which affects its cost in comparison to steel.

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Answer 2

Textbook Question

Chapter 6, Problem 1RQ

Given the abundance of aluminum in the Earth’s crust, explain why it is more expensive than steel.

Expert Solution & Answer

To determine

Given the abundance of aluminum in the Earth’s crust, explain why it is more expensive than steel

Explanation of Solution

Aluminum, being an abundant metallic element, makes up about 8% of the Earth’s crust.

Bauxite serves as the principal ore for aluminum, and is a hydrous (water-containing) aluminum oxide containing various other oxides.

At first, clay and dirt is washed off from the ore. Then the ore is crushed into powder and treated with hot caustic soda (sodium hydroxide) to remove the remaining impurities. Next, extraction of alumina (aluminum oxide) takes place from this solution which is dissolved in a molten sodium-fluoride and aluminum-fluoride bath at a temperature of about 940◦ to 980◦C (1725◦ to 1800◦F).

Then, direct-current electrolysis of this mixture is performed. Aluminum metal is formed at the cathode (negative pole), and oxygen is gathered at the anode (positive pole). Commercially, 99.99% pure aluminum can be obtained. Aluminum production consumes a lot of electricity which affects its cost in comparison to steel.

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Answer 3

Textbook Question

Chapter 6, Problem 1RQ

Given the abundance of aluminum in the Earth’s crust, explain why it is more expensive than steel.

Expert Solution & Answer

To determine

Given the abundance of aluminum in the Earth’s crust, explain why it is more expensive than steel

Explanation of Solution

Aluminum, being an abundant metallic element, makes up about 8% of the Earth’s crust.

Bauxite serves as the principal ore for aluminum, and is a hydrous (water-containing) aluminum oxide containing various other oxides.

At first, clay and dirt is washed off from the ore. Then the ore is crushed into powder and treated with hot caustic soda (sodium hydroxide) to remove the remaining impurities. Next, extraction of alumina (aluminum oxide) takes place from this solution which is dissolved in a molten sodium-fluoride and aluminum-fluoride bath at a temperature of about 940◦ to 980◦C (1725◦ to 1800◦F).

Then, direct-current electrolysis of this mixture is performed. Aluminum metal is formed at the cathode (negative pole), and oxygen is gathered at the anode (positive pole). Commercially, 99.99% pure aluminum can be obtained. Aluminum production consumes a lot of electricity which affects its cost in comparison to steel.

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Subscribe now to access step-by-step solutions to millions of textbook problems written by subject matter experts!

Answer 4

Textbook Question

Chapter 6, Problem 1RQ

Given the abundance of aluminum in the Earth’s crust, explain why it is more expensive than steel.

Expert Solution & Answer

To determine

Given the abundance of aluminum in the Earth’s crust, explain why it is more expensive than steel

Explanation of Solution

Aluminum, being an abundant metallic element, makes up about 8% of the Earth’s crust.

Bauxite serves as the principal ore for aluminum, and is a hydrous (water-containing) aluminum oxide containing various other oxides.

At first, clay and dirt is washed off from the ore. Then the ore is crushed into powder and treated with hot caustic soda (sodium hydroxide) to remove the remaining impurities. Next, extraction of alumina (aluminum oxide) takes place from this solution which is dissolved in a molten sodium-fluoride and aluminum-fluoride bath at a temperature of about 940◦ to 980◦C (1725◦ to 1800◦F).

Then, direct-current electrolysis of this mixture is performed. Aluminum metal is formed at the cathode (negative pole), and oxygen is gathered at the anode (positive pole). Commercially, 99.99% pure aluminum can be obtained. Aluminum production consumes a lot of electricity which affects its cost in comparison to steel.

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Subscribe now to access step-by-step solutions to millions of textbook problems written by subject matter experts!

Answer 5

Textbook Question

Answer 6

Textbook Question

Answer 7

Expert Solution & Answer

To determine

Given the abundance of aluminum in the Earth’s crust, explain why it is more expensive than steel

Explanation of Solution

Aluminum, being an abundant metallic element, makes up about 8% of the Earth’s crust.

Bauxite serves as the principal ore for aluminum, and is a hydrous (water-containing) aluminum oxide containing various other oxides.

At first, clay and dirt is washed off from the ore. Then the ore is crushed into powder and treated with hot caustic soda (sodium hydroxide) to remove the remaining impurities. Next, extraction of alumina (aluminum oxide) takes place from this solution which is dissolved in a molten sodium-fluoride and aluminum-fluoride bath at a temperature of about 940◦ to 980◦C (1725◦ to 1800◦F).

Then, direct-current electrolysis of this mixture is performed. Aluminum metal is formed at the cathode (negative pole), and oxygen is gathered at the anode (positive pole). Commercially, 99.99% pure aluminum can be obtained. Aluminum production consumes a lot of electricity which affects its cost in comparison to steel.

Answer 8

Expert Solution & Answer

To determine

Given the abundance of aluminum in the Earth’s crust, explain why it is more expensive than steel

Explanation of Solution

Aluminum, being an abundant metallic element, makes up about 8% of the Earth’s crust.

Bauxite serves as the principal ore for aluminum, and is a hydrous (water-containing) aluminum oxide containing various other oxides.

At first, clay and dirt is washed off from the ore. Then the ore is crushed into powder and treated with hot caustic soda (sodium hydroxide) to remove the remaining impurities. Next, extraction of alumina (aluminum oxide) takes place from this solution which is dissolved in a molten sodium-fluoride and aluminum-fluoride bath at a temperature of about 940◦ to 980◦C (1725◦ to 1800◦F).

Then, direct-current electrolysis of this mixture is performed. Aluminum metal is formed at the cathode (negative pole), and oxygen is gathered at the anode (positive pole). Commercially, 99.99% pure aluminum can be obtained. Aluminum production consumes a lot of electricity which affects its cost in comparison to steel.

Answer 9

Expert Solution & Answer

Answer 10

Expert Solution & Answer

Answer 11

To determine

Given the abundance of aluminum in the Earth’s crust, explain why it is more expensive than steel

Answer 12

Explanation of Solution

Aluminum, being an abundant metallic element, makes up about 8% of the Earth’s crust.

Bauxite serves as the principal ore for aluminum, and is a hydrous (water-containing) aluminum oxide containing various other oxides.

At first, clay and dirt is washed off from the ore. Then the ore is crushed into powder and treated with hot caustic soda (sodium hydroxide) to remove the remaining impurities. Next, extraction of alumina (aluminum oxide) takes place from this solution which is dissolved in a molten sodium-fluoride and aluminum-fluoride bath at a temperature of about 940◦ to 980◦C (1725◦ to 1800◦F).

Then, direct-current electrolysis of this mixture is performed. Aluminum metal is formed at the cathode (negative pole), and oxygen is gathered at the anode (positive pole). Commercially, 99.99% pure aluminum can be obtained. Aluminum production consumes a lot of electricity which affects its cost in comparison to steel.

Answer 13

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Given the abundance of aluminum in the Earth’s crust, explain why it is more expensive than steel.

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