Aluminium or Aluminum? Why do Americans Say Aluminum

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Note that I left out many details and goings-on in regards to the naming of aluminum/aluminium but, instead, summarized it briefly. I also failed to mention that the American dictionary publisher Noah Webster adopted 'aluminum' for his dictionary, which could have undoubtedly influenced the way we say it in America. But who influenced Webster? I suspect that industry preference had solidified before this relatively unknown element made its way into the dictionary.

Sir Humphrey Davy theorized that aluminium could be produced by electrolytic reduction from alumina (aluminium oxide), in 1808, but failed to prove the theory in practice. Hans Christian Oersted from Denmark was successful at isolating it in 1825.

By the way, the base 'alum' was called alumen in Latin.

If any of the scientific details are incorrect, it is entirely my fault. Please don't blame it on America!


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