Aluminium and Titanium

Extraction-Can't be extracted by reduction using carbon but electrolysis is used instead. This involves an electric current passing through molten aluminium oxide at a high temperature.

Uses-Aluminium doesn't corrode very easily. Alloys of Aluminium have a low density but are stronger than pure aluminium . It is used for drinks cans, aluminium foil, electric cables and bikes.

Cost-Aluminium costs £1000 per tonne. It needs to be extracted from aluminium oxide using electrolysis. It has very high melting points so needs a high temeprature to make it molten so requires a lot of electricity.

Extraction- Titanium isn't very reactive. It is extracted by electrolysis. Titanium oxide needs to be converted into titanium chloride which is distilled to purify. After it can be displaced by sodium or magnesium.

Uses-Titanium is very strong and is resistant to corrosion. It is alot more dense than aluminium. It has a very high melting temperature of 1600C so it can be used at very high temperatures. It is used for Jet engine parts, sports equipment, aircrafts and repacement hip joints. It is also recyclable.

Cost-Titanium costs £9000 per tonne. Titanium has a number of stages to its extraction. This itself has to separate using electrolysis to be used in the extraction.