Short Wave Aluminum's Journey From Precious Metal To Beer Can
Dec 10, 2019
Join NPR's Scott Neuman, a seasoned reporter and editor in the science realm, as he unpacks aluminum's fascinating history. Once rarer than gold, aluminum's extraction breakthroughs transformed it into a staple of everyday life. Discover how it shifted from a luxury metal to a crucial component in aviation and beverage cans. Neuman dives into the cultural quirks of aluminum vs. aluminium pronunciation and highlights the pivotal contributions of women in the field. A captivating journey from rarity to ubiquity awaits!
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Aluminum Cap
- The Washington Monument was capped with aluminum in 1884, signifying its value and conductivity.
- Just a few years later, aluminum's price plummeted due to advancements in extraction methods.
Aluminum's Reactivity
- Aluminum is abundant but reactive, always bonding with other elements.
- Extracting pure aluminum requires significant energy to break these strong bonds.
The Aluminum Race
- In 1886, Charles Hall and Paul Héroult, independently discovered an electrolytic process to extract aluminum.
- A patent dispute ensued, but they eventually resolved it and became friends.