Although Friedrich Wöhler is known to be the first person to separate aluminum by mixing anhydrous aluminum chloride with potassium in 1827 it was produced by a Danish physicist and chemist Hans Christian Øersted two years ago in an impure form. Hence the name of Øersted is known as the first person who has discovered aluminum in the chemical literature. French Henri Sainte-Claire Deville has developed Wöhler’s method using sodium instead of potassium which is more expensive in 1846.

American Charles Martin Hall has applied for patent in 1886 for acquisition of aluminum with an electrolytic process and in the same year French Paul Héroult has developed the same technique in Europe unaware of the present invention. Therefore Hall-Heroult process formed of names of two scientists is the main method used in the whole world today for acquisition of aluminum.