Aluminum was first isolated from the mineral alum in 1827 by the German chemist F. Woehler. The name aluminum comes from the word "alumen" which is the Latin equivalent of alum, meaning bitter taste. Aluminum, the second member of group 3A, has atomic number 13. Its electron configuration is ls22s22p63s23p1, so it takes +3 oxidation state in its compounds to have the same electron configuration as neon.
Aluminum is a silvery white element with metallic luster. It melts at 660.3°C, boils at 1519°C, and has a density of 2.7 g/cm3. It is a soft metal, but its hardness can be increased when it is alloyed with elements such as Cu, Mg, Mn and Si. Aluminum has lots of different uses because of its ductility and malleability. It can easily be hammered into wire and plate, even into sheets. Hence, it is frequently used for packaging food. Because it is an excellent conductor of electricity, and it is lighter and cheaper than copper, it is used in high-voltage lines.