What Is Aluminum?
Nov 18, 2022
Aluminum is a light white metal that is the third most abundant in the Earth's crust after oxygen and silicon. Aluminum is very important and widely used in the three major industries of aviation, construction and automobile.
More than 150 years ago, Napoleon III, the arrogant and extravagant French emperor, wanted to show his wealth and dignity by ordering his officials to make himself an aluminum crown. He donned an aluminum crown and received the obeisance of the officials with great pomp, which became sensational news. When Napoleon III held a grand banquet, he had a special set of tableware made of aluminum, while others could only use gold and silver tableware.
As incredible as it may sound, how did aluminum become the material for making crowns? The emperor's tableware made of aluminum? But it is true that aluminum, at that time, was a rare precious metal, known as "silver gold," more precious than gold.
The reason aluminum was valuable at that time was because of poor smelting technology.
