# Aluminium vs Aluminum **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 19, 2012, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aluminium-vs-aluminum/644517 "2012-12-19T12:48:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2012, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aluminium-vs-aluminum/644517/21 "2012-12-19T14:21:40Z")
This site claims that Davy proposed calling it _aluminum_ before it vwas even actually isolated: > **[Why There Are Two Names for Element 13?](https://www.thoughtco.com/aluminum-or-aluminium-3980635)** > > Element 13 is unique in that it has two names. Depending on who you ask, it may be Aluminum or Aluminium. Discover the reason for this difference. ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2012, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aluminium-vs-aluminum/644517/22 "2012-12-19T14:23:43Z")
> [@njtt](#): > > Although not the very first name to be applied to it, _aluminium_ quickly became the accepted name for it, used in Britain, used by the Swede or German (precedence seems to be disputed) who first isolated the metal, and used by those Americans aware of its existence until Noah Webster decided to mix things up. From my reading of those cites I don’t think Webster can be blamed. It seems both forms were in common use in America right up until the early 20th century, when _aluminum_ took over because that’s what the people producing it called it: > [@](#): > > In his advertising handbill for his new electrolytic method of producing the metal 1892, Charles Martin Hall used the -um spelling, despite his constant use of the -ium spelling in all the patents > **[Aluminium](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aluminium)** > > Aluminium (or aluminum in North American English) is a chemical element; it has symbol Al and atomic number 13. It has a density lower than that of other common metals, about one-third that of steel. Aluminium has a great affinity towards oxygen, forming a protective layer of oxide on the surface when exposed to air. It visually resembles silver, both in its color and in its great ability to reflect light. It is soft, nonmagnetic, and ductile. It has one stable isotope, 27Al, which is highly ... ---
**Author:** ![yabob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yabob/32/2821_2.png) [@yabob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yabob)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2012, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aluminium-vs-aluminum/644517/23 "2012-12-19T14:24:40Z")
Might as well bring up the [webelements](http://www.webelements.com/aluminium/) version, which mentions the standards bodies involved: > [@](#): > > The ancient Greeks and Romans used alum in medicine as an astringent, and in dyeing processes. In 1761 de Morveau proposed the name “alumine” for the base in alum. In 1807, Davy proposed the name alumium for the metal, undiscovered at that time, and later agreed to change it to aluminum. Shortly thereafter, the name aluminium was adopted by IUPAC to conform with the “ium” ending of most elements. Aluminium is the IUPAC spelling and therefore the international standard. Aluminium was also the accepted spelling in the U.S.A. until 1925, at which time the American Chemical Society decided to revert back to aluminum, and to this day Americans still refer to aluminium as “aluminum”. ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2012, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aluminium-vs-aluminum/644517/24 "2012-12-19T14:29:52Z")
So there you go. You lot win with “sulfur”; we win with “aluminium” and “caesium” (at least as far as IUPAC is concerned). 2-1 to the Brits! In your face! (If we leave out that other historical stuff…) ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2012, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aluminium-vs-aluminum/644517/25 "2012-12-19T14:42:14Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > I’d almost feel bad about it, except that this was just mulled over in another thread within the past week. I think \*\*Polycarp \*\*was referring to the OP proper rather than your post, wherein the OP uses the rhetorical device of presuming a conclusion in the form of a question. (GQ is not _Jeopardy_ :)) ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2012, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aluminium-vs-aluminum/644517/26 "2012-12-19T15:52:44Z")
Mangetout writes: \> In many, probably most cases, differences in spelling between UK and US \> English are the result of change on the American side. That isn’t really clear to me. It appears that spelling in English was quite variable in the mid-eighteenth century. In some cases American spelling settled on one of the possible variants while British spelling settled on another variant. There are still lots of inconsistencies in spelling rules on both sides: > **[American and British English spelling differences](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_and_British_English_spelling_differences)** > > Despite the various English dialects spoken from country to country and within different regions of the same country, there are only slight regional variations in English orthography, the two most notable variations being British and American spelling. Many of the differences between American and British English / Commonwealth English date back to a time before spelling standards were developed. For instance, some spellings seen as "American" today were once commonly used in Britain, and some s... ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2012, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aluminium-vs-aluminum/644517/27 "2012-12-19T16:59:25Z")
> [@RobDog](#): > > Ninja’d 😛 He used Ninjainium. ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2012, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aluminium-vs-aluminum/644517/28 "2012-12-19T17:00:50Z")
> [@BMalion](#): > > He used Ninjainium. Otherwise known as the element of surprise. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2012, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aluminium-vs-aluminum/644517/29 "2012-12-19T21:05:36Z")
Fear and surprise. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2012, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aluminium-vs-aluminum/644517/30 "2012-12-19T21:08:53Z")
[How I feel when someone explains that a feature of a dialect is somehow wrong.](http://cdn.crushable.com/files/2012/07/jlaw-okay.gif) ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2012, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aluminium-vs-aluminum/644517/31 "2012-12-19T21:08:54Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Fear and surprise. I didn’t expect _that_. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2012, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aluminium-vs-aluminum/644517/32 "2012-12-19T21:15:58Z")
> [@Wendell\_Wagner](#): > > Mangetout writes: > > \> In many, probably most cases, differences in spelling between UK and US > \> English are the result of change on the American side. > > That isn’t really clear to me. It appears that spelling in English was quite variable in the mid-eighteenth century. In some cases American spelling settled on one of the possible variants while British spelling settled on another variant. There are still lots of inconsistencies in spelling rules on both sides: > > [American and British English spelling differences - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_and_British_English_spelling_differences) Exceptions and inconsistencies aside, you should read that link a bit closer - it lists many cases where differences in spelling (and critically to my point in post #16, most of the very commonly-encountered differences) involve American spelling reform. ---
**Author:** ![percypercy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8baadc/32.png) [@percypercy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/percypercy)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2012, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aluminium-vs-aluminum/644517/33 "2012-12-19T21:38:38Z")
Sulfur still looks wrong to me. We had this science class in 7th grade where I kept spelling it as “sulphur” or sulphuric acid which just looks more correct to me. Not sure where I got that from, but once I did it stuck. ---
**Author:** ![moriah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b2d939/32.png) [@moriah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moriah)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2012, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aluminium-vs-aluminum/644517/34 "2012-12-19T22:50:30Z")
It’s pronounced, “13.” All elements should be referred to by their number. ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2012, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aluminium-vs-aluminum/644517/35 "2012-12-19T22:56:46Z")
> [@CookingWithGas](#): > > I think \*\*Polycarp \*\*was referring to the OP proper rather than your post, wherein the OP uses the rhetorical device of presuming a conclusion in the form of a question. (GQ is not _Jeopardy_ :)) **Cooking** is correct on my intent here. Your post was not yet up when I went to compose mine, **Cal**. Sorry f it inadvertently sounded like criticism of you. ---
**Author:** ![Hail\_Ants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dc4da7/32.png) [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2012, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aluminium-vs-aluminum/644517/36 "2012-12-20T04:25:13Z")
Just my wild ass guess, I mean, learned opinion, but I can’t help think that since America first mass produced it, we inevitably went with calling it _a-lu-min-um_ simply because _ **al-u-min-ee-um** _ is a fucking annoying tongue-twister to say! 😃 Don’t get me started on _garage_, _controversy_, or _pedophile_… ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2012, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aluminium-vs-aluminum/644517/37 "2012-12-20T04:28:55Z")
There’s an old Andy Hardy film from the 1930s, I forget which one, in which they use “aluminium.” A minor plot line is that someone is trying to get Judge Hardy to invest in this new metal aluminium. So for a while at least, Americans did use what is now the British term. ---
**Author:** ![Michael63129](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3da27b/32.png) [@Michael63129](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Michael63129)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2012, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aluminium-vs-aluminum/644517/38 "2012-12-20T04:59:32Z")
> [@Hail\_Ants](#): > > Just my wild ass guess, I mean, learned opinion, but I can’t help think that since America first mass produced it, we inevitably went with calling it _a-lu-min-um_ simply because _ **al-u-min-ee-um** _ is a fucking annoying tongue-twister to say! 😃 > > Don’t get me started on _garage_, _controversy_, or _pedophile_… I always say it the first way regardless of how it is spelled, usually not noticing the extra “i”. On the other hand, something that really bugs me is when people use “mebibyte” instead of “megabyte” (WTF is a mebibyte; except for hard drives, which is probably the reason for this, I think everybody knows that 1 MB is referring to 2^20), same for gibibyte and so on (hey, Firefox underlines those weird spellings, same for aluminium!). ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2012, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aluminium-vs-aluminum/644517/39 "2012-12-20T05:12:08Z")
Aside from his involvement with alumium/aluminum/aluminium, Sir Humphrey Davy is the subject of one of the more famous [clerihews:](http://www.theatlantic.com/past/docs/unbound/wordgame/wg825.htm) > [@](#): > > Sir Humphrey Davy > Detested gravy. > He lived in the odium > Of having discovered sodium. ---
**Author:** ![Jamicat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c67d28/32.png) [@Jamicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jamicat)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2012, 6:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aluminium-vs-aluminum/644517/40 "2012-12-20T06:54:42Z")
Ununobtainium. :mad: [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aluminium-vs-aluminum/644517.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aluminium-vs-aluminum/644517.md?page=3)