IS ALUMINUM A METAL?
What is aluminum?
Aluminum is an element that falls into the category of metallic elements. It is the most abundant metal out of 95 metals. It is also the third most abundant element out of 118 elements of the world as it composes 8.3% of all elements.
How is Aluminum a metal?
According to Electronic Configuration of Aluminum, It falls into the III-A group elements of the periodic table, also known as the boron family. The boron family is a metal dominant group as all of the elements of III-A are metals except Boron itself, which a metalloid. Of course, the periodic table is arranged accordingly with the properties of similar elements so these are the following features of aluminum that prove it is a metal.
• Valency:
The amount of electrons in the most common isotope of Aluminium atom is 13, which means it has 3 electrons in its valence shell because the K-shell will hold a total of 2 electrons, L-shell will hold a total of 8 electrons, which leaves only 3 electrons for M-shell. To gain stability and to complete its octet, it donates it extra 3 electrons to other particles. That’s why the overall valency of the III-A group is +3.
• Al as a conductor:
With the +3 valency of Aluminum, it makes it easier for electrons to flow through the conductor made of Aluminum. The internal resistance of aluminum is also very low, only next to silver and copper. Which makes it easier for electricity flow through it.
It is also a very good conductor of heat. Food is preserved in aluminum foils to keep them warm.
• Lustrous:
Like all metals, Aluminum has a very shiny, bright, and lustrous nature. It is also very reflective in nature. Some Lamps has aluminum on their internal walls so it can reflect the rays coming from the light source equally.
• Solid:
Like all metals(except mercury which is a liquid) Aluminium exists in a solid-state at room temperature. It also has a very high melting point of 660.3 °C and a high density of 2.7 g/cm³.
• Moldable:
Like all metals, Aluminum has a very high elastic property and can be molded without breaking apart, because of this property wires are also made up of aluminum so that they can be bend.