Aluminum chloride

Aluminum Chloride

Aluminium chloride (AlCl3), also known as aluminium trichloride, describe compounds with the formula AlCl3(H2O)n (n = 0 or 6). They consist of aluminium and chlorine atoms in a 1:3 ratio, and one form also contains six waters of hydration. Both are white solids, but samples are often contaminated with iron(III) chloride, giving a yellow color.

The anhydrous material is important commercially. It has a low melting and boiling point. It is mainly produced and consumed in the production of aluminium metal, but large amounts are also used in other areas of the chemical industry.[7] The compound is often cited as a Lewis acid. It is an example of an inorganic compound that reversibly changes from a polymer to a monomer at mild temperature.

Product Description: White or light yellow granule or powder, relative density  2.44(25ºC),  Melting Point 190ºC(253KPa),incombustible, easily soluble in water, soluble in ethyl alcohol, chloroform, carbon tetrachloride. Slightly soluble  in  Benzene.  Strong water absorbing ability. Extremely easy to deliquesce. When exposing to the air, it could easily absorb  the water and is hydrolyzed to hydrogen chloride. Strong causticity. Form complex compound with many inorganic or organic compound. And the formed products are all easy to decompose.

Application: It is one of the most important inorganic chemical products. It is mainly used in alkylating agent for detergent production, synthesis of pharmaceuticals, synthesis of dyes, synthesis of rubbers, detergent, fragrance etc. Besides, it is also an import catalyst, it is widely used as catalyst in the Friedel-Crafts reaction. Most Aluminum Chloride is mainly used as catalyst all over the world and small amount are used as non-catalyst.