Aluminium (Al)
Light and shiny. Soda cans and foil are made of it.
Aluminium facts
- Symbol
- Al
- Atomic number
- 13
- Atomic mass
- 26.982
- Family
- Other metals
- Period
- 3
- Group
- 13
Famous reactions with aluminium
- Invisible shield! Aluminium and OxygenAluminium oxide 4Al + 3O₂ → 2Al₂O₃ · At room temperature · Try it
- Crumble! Gallium meets AluminiumGallium soaked into aluminium · At room temperature · Try it
- Sparks fly! Aluminium meets BromineAluminium bromide 2Al + 3Br₂ → 2AlBr₃ · At room temperature · Try it
- Purple smoke! Aluminium meets IodineAluminium iodide 2Al + 3I₂ → 2AlI₃ · Add one drop of water to start it · Try it
- Hairy metal! Aluminium meets MercuryAluminium amalgam (growing white "fur") · At room temperature · Try it
What does aluminium react with?
Aluminium makes a new substance with 10 other elements and chemicals in our lab:
- Aluminium + CarbonAluminium carbide 4Al + 3C → Al₄C₃ · Only in a very hot furnace · Try it
- Aluminium + NitrogenAluminium nitride 2Al + N₂ → 2AlN · Only when heated very strongly · Try it
- Aluminium + FluorineAluminium fluoride 2Al + 3F₂ → 2AlF₃ · At room temperature · Try it
- Aluminium + PhosphorusAluminium phosphide Al + P → AlP · When heated · Try it
- Aluminium + SulfurAluminium sulfide 2Al + 3S → Al₂S₃ · When heated · Try it
- Aluminium + ChlorineAluminium chloride 2Al + 3Cl₂ → 2AlCl₃ · At room temperature · Try it
- Aluminium + ArsenicAluminium arsenide Al + As → AlAs · When heated · Try it
- Aluminium + SeleniumAluminium selenide 2Al + 3Se → Al₂Se₃ · When heated · Try it
- Aluminium + TelluriumAluminium telluride 2Al + 3Te → Al₂Te₃ · When heated · Try it
- Aluminium + Hydrochloric AcidAluminium chloride + hydrogen gas 2Al + 6HCl → 2AlCl₃ + 3H₂ · At room temperature · Try it
It also blends into a mixture, like an alloy, with 72 other metals when melted together.
Nothing happens when it's simply mixed with 11 of the others. 21 pairings have never been tried, because not enough atoms have ever existed.