Puricare Industrial Enterprises: Aluminum

Showing posts with label Aluminum. Show all posts

Friday, October 11, 2019

ALUMINUM - Interesting Aluminum Facts - Pure aluminum is a soft, nonmagnetic silvery-white metal. Most people are familiar with the pure element's appearance from aluminum foil or cans. Aluminum is not very ductile, which means it isn't readily drawn into wires. Aluminum is strong, yet light compared with most other metals. Whether or not aluminum is a factor in Alzheimer's disease is a matter of debate. It is unknown whether aluminum contributes to the degenerative disease or whether developing the disease results in accumulation of the element. Aluminum conducts electricity, although not as well as silver, copper, or gold. If you have metal dental fillings or braces, you can experience this firsthand.

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Aluminum

Atomic Number 13 - Interesting Aluminum Facts

What Element is Atomic Number 13?

by Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D.

Aluminum (aluminium) is the element that is atomic number 13 on the periodic table.

Its element symbol is Al and its atomic mass is 26.98.

Each atom of aluminum contains 18 protons. Aluminum atoms with fewer than 18 electrons are cations, while those with more than 18 electrons are anions.

The isotope of aluminum is determined by its number of neutrons.

Here is a collection of interesting facts about atomic number 13.

Element Atomic Number 13 Facts

· Pure aluminum is a soft, nonmagnetic silvery-white metal. Most people are familiar with the pure element's appearance from aluminum foil or cans.

Unlike many other metals, aluminum is not very ductile, which means it isn't readily drawn into wires. Aluminum is strong, yet light compared with most other metals.

· Aluminum is the third most abundant element in the Earth's crust (about 8%) and the most abundant metal.

· Aluminum ore (bauxite) is mined, chemically refined into alumina (aluminum oxide) using the Bayer process, and finally refined into aluminum metal using the electrolytic Hall-Heroult process.

The modern process requires considerable energy, yet it's much easier than past refining methods.

It was so difficult to obtain element 13 that is was considered a precious metal. Napoleon III served dinners to his most important guests on aluminum platters, leaving lesser guests to dine using gold!

· In 1884, the cap of the Washington Monument was made using aluminum because the metal was so highly valued at that time.

· Only 5% of the energy needed to purify aluminum from alumina is required to recycle aluminum from scrap. In fact, you can even recycle the element at home, if you like.

· The name for element 13 has been either aluminum or aluminium. We can blame the English chemist, Sir Humphy Davy, for the confusion.

Davy initially called the element alumium in 1807, from the mineral alumina. Davy changed the name to aluminum and then finally to aluminium in 1812.

The -um spelling persisted in Britain for a while, eventually changing to aluminium. Chemists in the United States actually used the -ium ending, shifting toward the -um ending in the 1900s.

In the 1990's, the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry formally determined element 13 should be aluminium, yet the -um spelling persists in the U.S.

It's worth noting that despite the naming controversy he caused, Davy neither discovered the element nor isolated it!

· Although aluminum is present in over 270 minerals and is widely abundant, the element does not appear to serve a biological role in either animals or plants.

The presence of aluminum salts is generally tolerated by animals and plants. However, in high doses aluminum exposure alters the function of the blood-brain barrier.

Some people are allergic to aluminum. Ingesting acidic foods increases aluminum absorption, while the flavor enhancer maltol increases its accumulation in bones and nerves.

Aluminum increases estrogen-related gene expression in breast cells of humans.

The US Department of Health and Human Services classifies aluminum as a non-carcinogen.

Whether or not aluminum is a factor in Alzheimer's disease is a matter of debate. It is unknown whether aluminum contributes to the degenerative disease or whether developing the disease results in accumulation of the element.

· Element atomic number 13 conducts electricity, although not as well as silver, copper, or gold. If you have metal dental fillings or braces, you can experience this firsthand.

When you bite on a piece of aluminum foil, the salts in saliva conduct electricity between the foil and the filling, creating a type of galvanic battery and delivering an electrical shock to your mouth.

· Uses of aluminum are second only to those of iron and its alloys. While nearly pure aluminum may be used, the element is also alloys with copper, zinc, magnesium, manganese, and silicon.

The pure element is used when corrosion resistance is paramount. Alloys are used where strength or hardness are important. Aluminum is used in beverage containers because of its corrosion resistance.

The metal is used in construction, transportation, and to make everyday household items. High-purity aluminum is used in wires, electronics, and CDs.

The metal is used to make reflective surfaces and paint. Some string instruments, especially guitars, have aluminum bodies. Aircraft bodies are made of aluminum alloyed with magnesium.

Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D.

Introduction

Ph.D. in biomedical sciences from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville - Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

Science educator with experience teaching chemistry, biology, astronomy, and physics at the high school, college, and graduate levels.

ThoughtCo and About Education chemistry expert since 2001.

Widely-published graphic artist, responsible for printable periodic tables and other illustrations used in science.

Experience

Anne Helmenstine, Ph.D. has covered chemistry for ThoughtCo and About Education since 2001, and other sciences since 2013. She taught chemistry, biology, astronomy, and physics at the high school, college, and graduate levels. She has worked as a research scientist and also abstracting and indexing diverse scientific literature for the Department of Energy.

In addition to her work as a science writer, Dr. Helmenstine currently serves as a scientific consultant, specializing in problems requiring an interdisciplinary approach. Previously, she worked as a research scientist and college professor.

Education

Dr. Helmenstine holds a Ph.D. in biomedical sciences from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville and a B.A. in physics and mathematics with a minor in chemistry from Hastings College. In her doctoral work, Dr. Helmenstine developed ultra-sensitive chemical detection and medical diagnostic tests.

ThoughtCo and Dotdash

ThoughtCo is a premier reference site focusing on expert-created education content. We are one of the top-10 information sites in the world as rated by comScore, a leading Internet measurement company. Every month, more than 13 million readers seek answers to their questions on ThoughtCo.

For more than 20 years, Dotdash brands have been helping people find answers, solve problems, and get inspired. We are one of the top-20 largest content publishers on the Internet according to comScore, and reach more than 30% of the U.S. population monthly. Our brands collectively have won more than 20 industry awards in the last year alone, and recently Dotdash was named Publisher of the Year by Digiday, a leading industry publication.

https://www.thoughtco.com/atomic-number-13-interesting-aluminum-facts-606479

Sunday, June 30, 2019

SAFEST COOKWARE - Stainless steel is a mixture of several different metals, including nickel, chromium, and molybdenum, all of which can trickle into foods. Stainless steel cookware in good condition can be considered safe for cooking. Anodized aluminum cookware makes for what many cooks consider an ideal non-stick and scratch-resistant cooking surface. Cast iron cookware can also help ensure that eaters in your house get enough iron — which the body needs to produce red blood cells — as it seeps off the cookware into food in small amounts. For those who like the feel and heat distribution properties of cast iron but dread the seasoning process, ceramic enameled cookware is a good, if expensive, choice. One other surface favored by chefs for sauces and sautés is copper, which excels at quick warm-ups and even heat distribution.

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Safest Cookware

What Type of Cookware Is Safest for Cooking?

by Larry West

We are increasingly careful about the food we eat, and this concern is spreading to the materials in contact with our food.

For example, the choice of a safe reusable water bottle preoccupies many.

Let's examine the choices we have when considering which cookware to use.

Stainless Steel Cookware Combines Different Metals

In reality, stainless steel is really a mixture of several different metals, including nickel, chromium, and molybdenum, all of which can trickle into foods.

However, unless your stainless steel cookware is dinged and pitted, the amount of metals likely to get into your food is negligible.

Stainless steel cookware in good condition can be considered safe for cooking.

Anodized Aluminum Cookware May Be a Safer Alternative

These days, many health-conscious cooks are turning to anodized aluminum cookware as a safer alternative.

The electrochemical anodizing process locks in the cookware’s base metal, aluminum, so that it can’t get into food, and makes for what many cooks consider an ideal non-stick and scratch-resistant cooking surface.

Calphalon is the leading manufacturer of anodized aluminum cookware, but newer offerings from All-Clad (endorsed by celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse) and others are coming on strong.

Can Cast Iron Cookware Actually Improve Health?

Another good choice is that old standby, cast iron, which is known for its durability and its even heat distribution.

Cast iron cookware can also help ensure that eaters in your house get enough iron — which the body needs to produce red blood cells — as it seeps off the cookware into food in small amounts.

Unlike the metals that can come off of some other types of pots and pans, iron is considered a healthy food additive by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Consumers should beware, though, that most cast iron cookware needs to be seasoned after each use to prevent rust and as such is not as worry-free as other alternatives.

Ceramic Cookware Provides Some Benefits of Cast Iron Without the Bother

For those who like the feel and heat distribution properties of cast iron but dread the seasoning process, ceramic enameled cookware is a good, if expensive, choice.

The smooth and colorful enamel is dishwasher-friendly and somewhat non-stick and covers the entire surface of such cookware to minimize clean-up headaches.

Copper Cookware Is Excellent for Certain Uses

One other surface favored by chefs for sauces and sautés is copper, which excels at quick warm-ups and even heat distribution.

Since copper can leak into food in large amounts when heated, the cooking surfaces are usually lined with tin or stainless steel.

Non-Stick Coatings Can Be Safe, If Used Properly

Teflon is a non-stick coating used to prevent food from adhering to the cookware's surface.

Some environmental and health concerns have emerged associated with the manufacturing process of Teflon, but as for its domestic use, the answer is more complex.

Studies have shown that non-stick coatings are stable and safe during normal use conditions.

However, when subject to temperatures above normal cooking heat (above 500 degrees Fahrenheit), fumes can be released.

For a yet to be discovered reason, birds appear sensitive to those fumes.

The American Cancer Society states that there are no known risks associated with Teflon-coated cookware.

With proper use and care, these pots and pan—which constitute more than half of all cookware sales in the U.S.—should be safe to use.

Edited by Frederic Beaudry.

Frederic Beaudry

Associate professor of environmental science at Alfred University in New York

Ph.D. in wildlife ecology from the University of Maine

Experience

Dr. Frederic Beaudry is a former writer for ThoughtCo who contributed articles on pollution, global warming, and climate science for three years. He is an associate professor of environmental science at Alfred University in New York. Prior to teaching, he worked as a wildlife biologist, focusing on the ecology and conservation of birds and turtles. Beaudry has authored several scientific papers on land use and conservation and has conducted research examining land use changes and their effects on bird and amphibian communities.

Education

Beaudry has a B.S. in biology from Université du Québec à Rimouski and an M.A. in natural resources from Humboldt State University. He earned a Ph.D. in wildlife ecology at the University of Maine. Beaudry completed postdoctoral research at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

ThoughtCo and Dotdash

https://www.thoughtco.com/type-of-cookware-safest-for-cooking-1204032

Friday, October 7, 2016

RESPIRATORY DISEASES AND ACID RAIN - Studies show an increase of chronic conditions, such as asthma and bronchitis, in people who are regularly exposed to acid rain. A damaged respiratory system means decreased oxygen in the blood supply, which eventually damages the heart.

Acid Rain Effects

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Acid rain is rain that contains nitric and sulfuric acid.

Snow and fog can also contain nitric and sulfuric acid, and the dangerous effects are the same whether the acid is falling to the earth by rain or snow, or dancing in the air via fog.

Any precipitation or dust particle that contains abnormal levels of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides is considered acid rain. Acid rain primarily affects the United States, Europe, and China.

Acid rain directly affects the chemical and pH balances in ground water.

The excess aluminum created by acid rain makes aquatic environments such as the sea, lakes, and streams, toxic.

The animals that can withstand the imbalance of the water's natural minerals might survive, but quickly lose their food source as the weaker creatures die off.
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Animals that cannot withstand the chemical imbalances die, fail to reproduce, become deformed due to bone decalcification, or fail to grow normally.

Algae growth is increased by acid rain, and rock scaling microbial and invertebrate herbivores lose habitation and die.

Acid rain leaches calcium out of the soil when it is absorbed by the earth. This directly affects the mineral levels of the soil and the creatures, such as snails, that rely on that calcium for shell growth.

Consequently, snails die off and birds, which eat them for calcium, lay eggs with shells that are weak and brittle and therefore fail to hatch.

Decreased calcium also creates excess aluminum in the soil, preventing trees and other plant life from absorbing water.
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Weakened plant life cannot tolerate extreme temperatures or fight off insects and disease.
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Those seeking an expensive paint job on

their car might want to think twice in areas directly affected by acid rain. The excess sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides in acid rain damage automobile paint and corrode surfaces.

It is believed that the acid rain causes the damage as it dries on, and evaporates from, the surface. Auto and paint coating manufacturers are trying to develop protective coatings that prevent acid rain corrosion.

Acid rain directly impacts forest ecosystems and their inhabitants. The damage to the forest trees and plants is widespread. Acid rain damages leaves as it falls. Acid rain runoff from the trees and forest floors infiltrates the forest's water supplies; runoff that doesn't enter the water supply is absorbed by the soil.

The consequence of this is just as it is for any soil or water source infected with acid rain: the plants and creatures die off, and the creatures that rely on those plants and smaller creatures lose their food source and die, as well.

Plants and animals are not the only victims of acid rain.

Acid rain is dangerous to humans. The same sulfate and nitrate particles that directly affect the soil and water pH balances can
cause serious damage to the respiratory system if inhaled deeply.

A damaged respiratory system means decreased oxygen in the blood supply, which eventually damages the heart. Studies show an increase of chronic conditions, such as asthma and bronchitis, in people who are regularly exposed to acid rain.

Preventing acid rain is the only way to stop its deadly impact on the environment.

Acid rain is caused by pollution. It is released into the air naturally during a volcanic eruption, but the primary cause of excess nitric and sulfuric acid in the environment is man-made.
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Conserving energy is the number one way humans can prevent acid rain. Using less energy at home decreases the need for power plants.

People also need to get out of their car. Using public transportation, biking or walking to destinations leaves fewer cars on the road, less emissions in the air, and a decreased dependency upon fossil fuels.

Finally, manufacturing plants can reduce the emissions that cause acid rain by using scrubbers to clean and remove the dangerous chemicals from the pipes before they are released into the air.

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