[mod.L.; formed, along with its Fr, equivalent alumine (also used in Eng.) on L. alūmen, alūmin-, alum, on the type of soda, potassa, magnesia, by the Fr. chemical nomenclators of 1787; its character as the earth of alum (alaun-erde) having been proved by Marggraf in 1754. Other proposed names were arga, argil.]
One of the earths, a white, insoluble, tasteless, amorphous substance; the only oxide (Al2O3) of the metal Aluminum, the basis of alum, the chief constituent of all clays, and found crystallized as the sapphire.
c. 1790. J. Black, Elem. Chem., II. 150. The French chemists have given a new name to this pure earth; alumine in French, and alumina in Latin. I confess I do not like this alumina.
1801. Chenevix, in Phil. Trans., XCI. 197. I could … discover iron, silica, alumina, and carbonic acid. Ibid. (1802), Chem. Nomencl., 116. In the chapter upon Earth, we find … Argil for Alumina.
1813. Sir H. Davy, Agric. Chem., 156. Alumina exists in a pure and crystallized state in the white sapphire.
1871. Tyndall, Fragm. Sc. (ed. 6), I. xii. 362. These masses of slate contain silica, alumina, potash, soda, and mica.
