# Aluminium is one of the most widely used metals in the world, found in products ranging from aircraft bodies to food packaging. Despite being the most abundant metal in the Earth's crust, aluminium was once more valuable than gold. Explain why aluminium is expensive to produce and describe the environmental considerations associated with obtaining aluminium.

> OCR A-Level Chemistry B: Salters (H433) — DM Developing metals · Explain · 5 marks

> Aluminium is the most abundant metal in the Earth's crust, yet it is classified as an expensive metal to produce. It is extracted from bauxite ore by electrolysis rather than by reduction with carbon.

## Mark scheme (5 marks)

1. Aluminium cannot be extracted by reduction with carbon / coke because aluminium is more reactive than carbon
2. Electrolysis requires large / continuous amounts of electrical energy, making it expensive
3. Mining bauxite / aluminium ore destroys habitats / causes loss of biodiversity / scars the landscape
4. Generating electricity for electrolysis often involves burning fossil fuels, releasing carbon dioxide / contributing to climate change / global warming
5. Recycling aluminium uses much less energy than extracting it from ore / reduces need for mining / conserves finite ore reserves

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