Difference Between Aluminum and Aluminium – Aluminum vs Aluminium | Diecasting-mould
The words “aluminum” and “aluminium” both stand for the chemical number 13 with the symbol Al, why the metal name developed into two different forms, and what’s the difference between aluminum and aluminium? In this article, we’ll talk about the origin and history of aluminum and aluminium, as well as aluminum vs aluminium, which to use.
Origin and History of Aluminum and Aluminium
Aluminum and aluminium are two names of the element 13 on the periodic table. In 1808, Sir Humphry Davy first proposed the name alumium in his research, which derives from the Latin alumina with a -ium on the end. By 1812, Davy changed the name to aluminum. But another scientist coined aluminium in the review of Davy’s lecture. In 1828, Noah Webster defined aluminum as “The name given to the supposed metallic base of alumina” in An American Dictionary of the English Language, by 1909, both aluminum and aluminium were noted in Webster’s New International Dictionary.
In 1990, IUPAC accepted aluminium as the international standard, later ACS adopted aluminum in 1925. Aluminum is the American version of the word and aluminium is the British version. Based on the International Dictionary in 1934, the note is: The form aluminum is in common use in the United States; the form aluminium is used in Great Britain and by some chemists in the United States.
Aluminum vs Aluminium – Difference Between Aluminum and Aluminium
Both aluminum and aluminium have a long history of use referring to the metallic element, their difference mainly related to the application regions.
1. Aluminum is the spelling form of American and Canadian, and aluminium is the preferred spelling outside North America. Both of them are logically justifiable and etymologically.
2. Aluminum was proposed earlier; it is the original spelling, while aluminium is more consistent with helium, lithium, magnesium, and other element games.
3. Aluminium is the preferred spelling in scientific writing and publications, even in America and Canada.
Aluminum vs Aluminium – Comparison of Usage Scenarios
| Applications | Aluminum (American) | Aluminium (British & International) |
|---|---|---|
| Countries & Regions | Primarily used in North America, including the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Also used in It is also used in some Asian countries, such as Japan and South Korea. | Widely used in the United Kingdom, Europe (including Australia and India), China, and international standards (such as those recommended by the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC). |
| Academic Field | Common in American chemical literature and textbooks. | Standard usage in international chemistry journals (e.g., Nature, Science) and European textbooks. |
| Industry & Commerce | Used in American aluminum product labels, company names (such as “Alcoa”). | Used by the International Aluminium Institute (IAI) and in European aluminum product standards. |
| Everyday Language | More commonly used in daily conversations among Americans. | More common in spoken and written language in British and Commonwealth countries. |
Which came first, aluminum or aluminium?
Aluminum. Aluminum was proposed by Sir Humphry Davy in 1812.
Which one is correct, aluminum or aluminium?
Both correct. Aluminum and aluminium describe the same elemental metal, just aluminum is the version used by Americans and Canadians, while aluminium is the version used in British and other areas outside North America.
How To Use Aluminum or Aluminium Correctly?
Choose based on region and audience:
If targeting readers in the US or Canada, using “aluminum” is more consistent with local conventions.
If targeting readers in the UK, Europe, or international settings, “aluminium” is recommended (which better conforms to international chemical naming conventions).
Consistent chemical symbols:
Aluminum’s chemical symbol is “Al,” regardless of spelling. It is not used in scientific literature.
At Junying, we accept both aluminum die casting and aluminium die casting. Different aluminum alloys can be handled. For more details about our metal casting service, welcome to contact us.