What is aluminum?

Aluminum is a light and strong metal that we use every day, like in cans and airplanes.

Imagine you have a can of soda, when you crush it, it’s easy to squish because aluminum is soft. But if you try to bend a paperclip, it’s harder than crushing a can. That's because aluminum is lighter and easier to shape than steel, which is another kind of metal used in cars and buildings.

Aluminum starts as a rock called bauxite, think of it like a chocolate bar full of hidden treats. We take the bauxite and cook it with heat, just like how you melt chocolate to make truffles. This process gives us pure aluminum, which we can shape into cans, pots, or even parts of airplanes.

Aluminum is also resistant to rust, meaning it doesn’t get all soggy and weak when it gets wet, unlike iron, which turns into a rusty mess. That's why you’ll find aluminum in your kitchen, on the road, and even up in the sky!