Question

Group 3A contains the most ___________ metal in Earth's crust—aluminum. The energy needed to recycle aluminum is ___________ percent of the energy needed to extract aluminum from bauxite.

a) reactive / 80 percent
b) abundant / 5 percent
c) rare / 50 percent
d) dangerous / 100 percent

Answer 1

The correct answer is b) abundant / 5 percent, as aluminum is the most abundant metal in the Earth's crust and recycling aluminum requires only about 5 percent of the energy needed to extract it from bauxite.

Step-by-step explanation:

Group 3A contains the most abundant metal in Earth's crust—aluminum. The energy needed to recycle aluminum is approximately 5 percent of the energy needed to extract aluminum from bauxite. Therefore, the correct answer is b) abundant / 5 percent.

Aluminum is an infinitely recyclable material, and recycling it takes up to 95 percent less energy compared to producing primary aluminum from bauxite. This process not only conserves energy but also significantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions, making aluminum recycling both cost-effective and environmentally beneficial. Electrolysis is a critical process for obtaining pure aluminum from ores, which is energy-intensive, further highlighting the importance of recycling as a means to save energy.