How does aluminum Atoms react in cold conditions? Why is Aluminum used in Planes?

1) Don't know - but most metals become brittle
2) Because it is light - they would use magnesium .. but that burns easily

Actually they also use quite a lot of carbon fibre in aircraft

How cold? Do you mean chemical reactivity or mechanical effects. Pure
aluminium is very soft and rarely used mechanically.

Aluminium alloys are used in aircraft construction because they are
light, quite strong, reasonably cheap, corrosion resistant and easily
fabricated.

BTW, frde, ally burns too. What a surprise that was for the Royal Navy
in the Falklands debacle.

Best

Yes - I know aluminium burns

About 20 years ago I did an experiment with a Coke can on a barbeque
- people still talk about it  :}

Oh frde, that was you that did it!

As Abe Lincoln said ...

Aluminum is used in airplanes, because it has a very high strength to
weight ratio, and it is cheap.  It is the third most abundant element
in the earth's crust, and when made into alloys, has characteristics
that are superior to steel, especially as far as fatigue and cycling
go.


Also, Aluminum forms an oxide film on its surface, which makes it
rustproof, unlike steel.

Thanks people, please keep them coming, coming on very well! it's for
a physics project for A level :) Thanks again to all poeple who have
contributed.

Try the link below, explains why it is more feasible to use aluminum on aircrafts. 

http://www.aluminum.org/Content/NavigationMenu/The_Industry/Transportation_Market/Aircraft/Aircraft.htm

Since you first posted your question I have kept my ears open on the subject

It sounds as if 'conventional' aircraft are still 90% aluminium
However Boeing seems to claim that the new 7E7 will be 90% carbon fibre
- I heard this on a World News program comparing Boeing and Airbus
- specifically the smaller 7E7 and the A380

Now you mention 'A' Levels I suspect a degree of trickery in the
questions you have been asked.

My suspicion is that composites have long been used in the
construction of small to mediumish aircraft and that Boeing is
extending it to 200 seaters.
I'm also very suspicious of things like '90%'
- 90% of what ?  Weight, Volume, Surface

frde-ga, the percantage weight saving is usually the weight, since
this is what matters to the aircraft designers.

Composites are widely used in large commercial aircraft, such as the
latest Airbus, the A380.

Hmmm...how do I put lionks in here?!