Aluminium Chloride

ALUMINIUM CHLORIDE

Aluminium Chloride(AlCl₃) is an inorganic compound with low melting and boiling points. It has high thermal conductivity and reversibly changes from a polymer to a monomer. It includes chlorine and aluminium atoms in a ratio of 1:3. It is a white-coloured compound with a pungent odour but when contaminated with iron it turns to a yellow colour. It is a powerful Lewis acid and is hygroscopic (absorbs moisture from the air). It is a volatile compound.

USES AND APPLICATIONS FOR Aluminium Chloride

• It is used in aircraft, transport sector, and electrical units.
• It is considered a versatile chemical compound thus finds its uses in the synthesis process.
• It is used in manufacturing rubber, paints, and lubricants industrially.
• It serves as a catalyst in most chemical reactions.
• It finds its applications in pesticides and pharmaceuticals.
• It serves as a flux in aluminium melting.
• It works as an oxidizing as well as a reducing agent in many industries.
• It is used in photo chemicals and personal care products.

Preparation

Its anhydrous form can be prepared by an exothermic reaction of molten aluminum and chlorine gas. It can also be prepared by reaction of chlorine, coke, and bauxite at above 875C.

Chemical Properties

• It reacts with water and dilutes sodium hydroxide.
• It is not a flammable compound.
• Its vapour pressure is 1 mm Hg at 100 °C.