Aluminium

Al. Sp. gr. 2.7. Mpt. 625° C. At. wt. 27. Discovered by Wöhler 1827. It is soluble in hydrochloric acid; it is not acted upon by nitric or sulphuric acids at ordinary temperatures; at higher temperatures action takes place and the corresponding salts are formed. It di olves in solutions of caustic alkalies, forming aluminates. It acts both as an acid-forming and a base-forming element. It reduces many oxides when heated with them to a sufficiently high temperature; for this reason it is used in the preparation of boron and silicon. See ALUMINIUM, METALLURGY OF.