Aluminum can be found throughout the earth's crust, but it is most commonly extracted from bauxite ore. Because it is so soft in its pure form, most aluminum used for commercial purposes consists of alloys made from refined bauxite mixed with stronger materials.
Aluminum is the third most commonly occurring element on Earth and the most commonly occurring metal. It is highly reactive and easily combines with most other elements. Although it's very easily found, aluminum can be challenging to separate from other compounds. Once it has been smelted and mixed into alloys, it becomes strong and light, making it a very suitable material for commercial construction.
