Chem Lab 2?

Question

What is the primary source of Aluminum? Where is it found?

Answer 1

Aluminum readily combines with silicon and oxygen to form bauxite a reddish - aluminum rich ore. It can be found in areas where there are lust rain forests or deserts where there once were rain forests (like in the southwest US).

Answer 2

Two ores are bauxite and cryolite. They are both Al2O3, except cryolite has some AlF3. Aluminum plants melt up as mixture of these ores and pass electric current through the melt to get Al. Cryolite is needed in at least a small amount with bauxite, becausde thevAlF3 content gives the melt better electrical conductivity.