EXTRACTION OF ALUMINIUM
Aluminium is extracted from its main ore called bauxite Al2O3 which is a impure aluminium
oxide, which occurs abundantly in rocks and clays.
The extraction proceeds in two stages:
STAGE 1 : Purification of bauxite (impure) in order to obtain pure Aluminium oxide Al 2O3
(Alumina).
The procedure used for purifying the ore is as follows:
(i)The bauxite is first heated with concentrated with concentrated sodium hydroxide under
pressure to form soluble Sodium aluminate(iii) NaAl(OH)4.
Al2O3 + 2NaOH + 3H2O 2NaAl(OH)4
(ii)The impurities which do not dissolve in or react with alkali are filtered off. The filtrate is
sodium aluminate(iii) while the residue contains the insoluble iron(iii) oxide, trioxosilicate(iv)
and other impurities which do not dissolve in the alkali are removed by Filtration.
(iii)The filtrate is then seeded with pure aluminium hydroxide crystals to induce the
precipitation of aluminium hydroxide.
NaAl(OH)4 Al(OH)3 + NaOH
(iv)The Aluminium hydroxide precipitate is Filtered off, dried and heated strongly to yield pure
aluminium oxide.
2Al(OH)3 Al2O3 + 3H2O
Pure aluminium oxide
STAGE (ii) Electrolysis of extraction of aluminium from purified bauxite.
The electrolytic cell is a rectangular iron container lined with graphite which serves as the
cathode of the cell. The anodes consist of carbon rods which are suspended in the electrolyte-
a solution of pure alumina or aluminium oxide in molten cryolite Na 3AlF6. The melting point of
alumina (20720c) is too high for practical use in electrolysis.
The molten cryolite lowers the melting point of Pure alumina to about 1000 0c, It reduces
some of the energy costs involved in extracting aluminium and also increases the electrical
conductivity of the electrolyte.
Chemistry of the reactions:
The electrode reactions are
At the Cathode: Al3+ + 3e- Al (reduction)
At the Anode : 2O2- O2 + 4e- (Oxidation)
Molten aluminium collects at the bottom of the tank cell and is tapped off at intervals.
The oxygen gas that is produced at the anode reacts at high temperature of the cell with the
carbon anode producing carbon dioxide gas escapes. Thus the anodes burn away and have to
be replaced regularly.
C + O2 CO2
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF AL
i) The atomic mass is 13, the relative molecular mass is 27gmol-1
ii) The valency is 3, it is monoatomic and it is a P-bock element
iii) It is silvery white in colour
iv) It is not very hard but it has a moderate tensile strength
v) It is very ductile and malleable
vi) It is a good conductor of heat and electricity
vii) The density is 2.7gcm-3
viii) It melts at 2056OC
CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF ALUMINIUM
(i)Reaction with air: When a piece of aluminium sheet is exposed to moist air, it acquires a
thin, continuous coating of aluminium oxide, which prevents further attack of the metal by
atmospheric oxygen, water or steam under normal conditions. Aluminium is thus said, to be
corrosion free.
4Al + 3O2 2Al2O3
(ii)Reaction with non-metals: Aluminium combines directly with the halogens, Sulphur,
phosphorous, and carbon and the reaction is exothermic.
2Al + 3Cl2 2AlCl3
2Al + 3S 2Al2S3
(iii)Reaction with acids: Aluminium reacts slowly with dilute hydrochloric acid, but more rapidly
with concentrated acid to displace hydrogen.
Al + 6HCl 2AlCl3 + 3H2
Aluminium does not react with dilute H2SO4 but with hot concentrated H2SO4 , SO2 is
liberated.
2Al + 4H2SO4 Al2(SO4)3 + 6H2O + 3SO2
(iv)Reaction with alkali: Al dissolves in both sodium and potassium hydroxide to form a soluble
aluminate(iii) with liberation of hydrogen gas.
2Al + 2NaOH + 6H2O 2NaAl(OH)4 + 3H2
(v)Reaction with iron(iii)oxide: Al reduces iron(iii) oxide to molten iron.
2Al + Fe2O3 Al2O3 + 2Fe
USES OF ALUMINIUM AND ITS COMPOUNDS
(i)Aluminium is used in the manufacture of cooking utensils because of its high thermal
conductivity.
(ii)It is used to build aircraft, buses and railway coaches because of its lightness.
(iii) It is used in making overhead electric cables, because of its lightness and good electrical
conductivity.
(iv)In the form of aluminium foil, it is used for wrapping cigarettes and sweets.
(v)It is used in the manufacture of paints and car headlamps because of high reflectivity.
(vi)Aluminium is used in making alloys such as duralumin(Al, Cu, Mg, Mn ), bronze (Cu, Al)
Which are stronger and harder than pure aluminium but retain its properties of lightness and
resistance to corrosion.
(vii)Aluminium ions from Al2(SO4)3 or alum are used as coagulating agents in water treatment
plants to remove colloidal organic matter.
(viii)Aluminium hydroxide is used in the dyeing industry as a mordant because it helps the dye
to stick to the cloth.
TEST FOR AL3+
TEST OBSERVATION INFERENCE
3+ 2+
Salt sample soln + NaOH(aq) White gelatinous precipitate, Al or Zn may be present
soluble in excess NaOH(aq)
Salt sample soln + Aqueous White gelatinous precipitate Al3+ present
Ammonia insoluble in excess NH3(aq)
