Russell McMahon wrote:
> > Yes but I was actually thinking more along the lines of storing
> > energy as a
> > change from one group to another rather than a physical structure.
> >
> > e.g.
> >
> >    Al37   <--->   Al13 + Al23 + Al
> >
> > Maybe do this with something much more reactive like sodium or
> > lithium.
>
> Alumin(i)um is in fact extremely reactive by normal standards. In air
> it would catch fire were it not for the fact that it immediately forms
> an oxide coating so tenacious that it prevents further reaction.
> Extremely fine Alumin(i)um powder is a hazardous material as it will
> catch fire in air and also reacts with moisture. People have made
> aluminium (wel'll go British) powered devices - eg an
> Aluminium-Seawater powered torpedo. A mechanical abrader kept the
> surface clear of oxide. Al-Air batteries have high energy densities.
> Al is a major constituent of some rocket fuels including the Space
> Shuttle solid boosters.
>
>
>
>         RM

Thank you for this info however in using the term "more reactive" I was refering
to the relative positions in the electrochemical series.

For more info on this have a look at:
http://www.chemguide.co.uk/physical/redoxeqia/ecs.html

Also I have discovered another very interesting site regarding elements and the
periodic table:
http://www.webelements.com/webelements/elements

I had trouble browsing through this site and I originally got to it via:
http://www.webelements.com/webelements/elements/text/Al/enth.html

Substituting the element symbol into the "/Al/" part of the URL allowed me to
navigate e.g.
http://www.webelements.com/webelements/elements/text/Na/enth.html

Regards
Sergio Masci




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