Aluminum Quiz
It's neither as tough as iron nor as pretty as silver and it's the most common metal on earth both in prevalence and in stature. Yet, this basic element has defeated the odds to make itself practically indispensible in our daily lives.
Question 2 of 11
About how many tons of aluminum did the world produce in 2007?
... Aluminum is the second-most used metal after steel, with annual primary production reaching 24.8 million tons (22.5 million metric tons) in 2007, according to the International Aluminum Institute.
Question 3 of 11
Which of the following is not a characteristic of aluminum?
... Aluminum is resistant to corrosion, making it useful for outdoor use, and it doesn't spark when struck, making it good for use around flammable substances. However, it also conducts electricity well, making it ideal for use in light bulbs and power lines.
Question 4 of 11
What can you mix with aluminum to make it stronger?
... Copper and magnesium increase the strength of aluminum. In addition, manganese is often added to aluminum to enhance its corrosion resistance.
Question 5 of 11
Which of the following is a cleaning process for aluminum?
... After being mixed with other metals to make alloys, aluminum undergoes a cleaning process known as fluxing. Fluxing uses gases such as nitrogen or argon to separate impurities and bring them to the surface so they can be skimmed away.
Question 6 of 11
What is alumina?
... Alumina is pure aluminum oxide extracted from an ore. Pure aluminum must be extracted from alumina.
Question 7 of 11
Which ore is the primary source of aluminum?
... The primary source of aluminum is a rock-hard ore known as bauxite. Deposits of bauxite occur as flat layers near the Earth's surface and may cover many miles.
Question 8 of 11
What is the name of the smelting process invented in 1886 that finally allowed industries to mass-produce pure aluminum?
... The Hall-Heroult process uses electrolysis to extract aluminum from aluminum oxide. By 1891, production of aluminum had reached more than 300 tons (272 metric tons), according to Alcoa.
Question 9 of 11
What aluminum production process involves forcing softened aluminum through dies?
... Extruding involves forcing softened aluminum through dies. The shape of the dies' opening determines the shape of the extruded aluminum.
Question 10 of 11
How much energy does recycling aluminum save in relation to creating new metal from ore?
... Recycling saves 95 percent of the energy it would take to make new metal from ore. Aluminum can recycling is one of the great successes of the modern sustainability movement
Question 11 of 11
In vehicles, every kilogram of heavier material that is replaced by aluminum spares the atmosphere of a certain amount of carbon dioxide. How many kilograms of carbon dioxide does it save over the lifetime of the vehicle for every kilogram that is replaced by aluminum?
... Every kilogram (2.2 pounds) of heavier material that is replaced by aluminum results in the elimination of 22 kilograms (44 pounds) of carbon dioxide over the lifetime of the vehicle, according to the International Aluminum Institute.
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