Of the 118 Atomic Elements on the Periodic Table, number 13 is one of the most important. Its proper name is aluminium, but today it’s called aluminum and is used to make everything from soda cans to building materials to airplanes.

Still, most people don’t seem to know much about aluminum. With over 70 years on the job, Cincinnati’s L. Levine & Co. has learned a thing or two about it, and they’ve decided to share some of the more interesting tidbits.

5 Things You Didn’t Know About Aluminum

It Was Discovered Less Than 200 Years Ago

In 1825, to be precise, though scientists suspected it existed as early as 1787. Its existence was proven in the early 1800s by Sir Humphrey Davy, and a Danish chemist named Hans Christian Oersted found a way to make it 1825.

It Was Once Considered Precious

Up until the late 1800s, aluminum was considered more valuable than Gold, because there was no commercially viable way to isolate it. Napoleon III even used it for his VIP cutlery, leaving his gold and silver flatware for less important dinner guests. 

It’s Resistant

One of the reasons aluminum is so viable commercially is because it does not rust or corrode. The reason is simple, Aluminum oxidizes easier than most metals, but instead of rusting, the Aluminum Oxide present forms a protective coating over the original metal. 

It’s Very Recyclable

100% recyclable, in fact. By that figure, scientists believe approximately 75% of all aluminum recycled throughout history is still in circulation. And just FYI - recycling a single aluminum can will power a light bulb for a full year. 

It’s Abundant

Though aluminum is never found free in nature, it makes up about 8.2% of the Earth’s crust, which means it’s the most abundant metal on Earth. It’s also the third most abundant Element behind only Silicon and Oxygen.

If you have a project requiring a durable, virtually rust proof metal, call L. Levine & Co. at (513) 471-5900 today to learn a little more about aluminum’s benefits. You can also check out L. Levine’s website for a full list of their steel and aluminum building products.