Aluminium chloride

Aluminium chloride
Clinical data
AHFS/Drugs.comMonograph
License data
Routes of
administration
Topical
ATC code
  • None
Identifiers
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)
ECHA InfoCard100.028.371
Data page
Aluminium chloride (data page)
Aluminium chloride
Aluminium trichloride hexahydrate, pure (top), and contaminated with iron(III) chloride (bottom)
Names
IUPAC name
Aluminium chloride
Other names
Aluminium(III) chloride
Aluminium trichloride
Trichloroaluminum
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
ChEBI
ChemSpider
ECHA InfoCard 100.028.371
EC Number
  • 231-208-1
Gmelin Reference
1876
RTECS number
  • BD0530000
UNII
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)
  • InChI=1S/Al.3ClH/h;3*1H/q+3;;;/p-3 Y
    Key: VSCWAEJMTAWNJL-UHFFFAOYSA-K Y
  • InChI=1/Al.3ClH/h;3*1H/q+3;;;/p-3
    Key: VSCWAEJMTAWNJL-DFZHHIFOAR
SMILES
  • monomer: Cl[Al](Cl)Cl
  • dimer: Cl[Al-]1(Cl)[Cl+][Al-]([Cl+]1)(Cl)Cl
  • hexahydrate: [OH2+][Al-3]([OH2+])([OH2+])([OH2+])([OH2+])[OH2+].[Cl-].[Cl-].[Cl-]
Properties
AlCl3
Molar mass
  • 133.341 g/mol (anhydrous)
  • 241.432 g/mol (hexahydrate)
[1]
Appearance Colourless crystals, hygroscopic
Density
  • 2.48 g/cm3 (anhydrous)
  • 2.398 g/cm3 (hexahydrate)
[1]
Melting point
  • 180 °C (356 °F; 453 K) (anhydrous, sublimes)[1]
  • 100 °C (212 °F; 373 K) (hexahydrate, decomposes)[1]
  • 439 g/L (0 °C)
  • 449 g/L (10 °C)
  • 458 g/L (20 °C)
  • 466 g/L (30 °C)
  • 473 g/L (40 °C)
  • 481 g/L (60 °C)
  • 486 g/L (80 °C)
  • 490 g/L (100 °C)
Solubility
  • Soluble in hydrogen chloride, ethanol, chloroform, carbon tetrachloride
  • Slightly soluble in benzene
Vapor pressure
  • 133.3 Pa (99 °C)
  • 13.3 kPa (151 °C)
[2]
Viscosity
  • 0.35 cP (197 °C)
  • 0.26 cP (237 °C)
[2]
Structure
Monoclinic, mS16
C12/m1, No. 12[3]
Lattice constant
a = 0.591 nm, b = 0.591 nm, c = 1.752 nm[3]
Lattice volume (V)
0.52996 nm3
Formula units (Z)
6
Coordination geometry
Octahedral (solid)
Tetrahedral (liquid)
Molecular shape
Trigonal planar
(monomeric vapour)
Thermochemistry
91.1 J/(mol·K)[4]
Std molar
entropy (S298)
109.3 J/(mol·K)[4]
−704.2 kJ/mol[4]
−628.8 kJ/mol[4]
Pharmacology
D10AX01 (WHO)
Hazards
GHS labelling:[6]
Pictograms
Danger
Hazard statements
H314
Precautionary statements
P260, P280, P301+P330+P331, P303+P361+P353, P305+P351+P338+P310, P310
NFPA 704 (fire diamond)
3
0
2
Lethal dose or concentration (LD, LC):
380 mg/kg, rat (oral, anhydrous)
3311 mg/kg, rat (oral, hexahydrate)
NIOSH (US health exposure limits):
PEL (Permissible)
None[5]
REL (Recommended)
2 mg/m3[5]
IDLH (Immediate danger)
N.D.[5]
Related compounds
Other anions
Other cations
  • Boron trichloride
  • Gallium trichloride
  • Indium(III) chloride
  • Thallium(III) chloride
Related Lewis acids
Related compounds
Supplementary data page
Aluminium chloride (data page)
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
N verify (what is YN ?)
Infobox references

Aluminium chloride, also known as aluminium trichloride, is an inorganic compound with the formula AlCl3. It forms a hexahydrate with the formula [Al(H2O)6]Cl3, containing six water molecules of hydration. Both the anhydrous form and the hexahydrate are colourless crystals, but samples are often contaminated with iron(III) chloride, giving them a yellow colour.

The anhydrous form is commercially important. It has a low melting and boiling point. It is mainly produced and consumed in the production of aluminium, 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 inorganic compound that reversibly changes from a polymer to a monomer at mild temperature.

  1. ^ a b c d Haynes WM, ed. (2011). CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics (92nd ed.). Boca Raton, Florida: CRC Press. p. 4.45. ISBN 1-4398-5511-0.
  2. ^ a b "Properties of substance: Aluminium chloride". Chemister.ru. 2007-03-19. Archived from the original on 2014-05-05. Retrieved 2017-03-17.
  3. ^ a b Ketelaar JA (1935). "Die Kristallstruktur der Aluminiumhalogenide II". Zeitschrift für Kristallographie – Crystalline Materials. 90 (1–6): 237–255. doi:10.1524/zkri.1935.90.1.237. S2CID 100796636.
  4. ^ a b c d Haynes WM, ed. (2011). CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics (92nd ed.). Boca Raton, Florida: CRC Press. p. 5.5. ISBN 1-4398-5511-0.
  5. ^ a b c NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards. "#0024". National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).
  6. ^ Sigma-Aldrich Co., Aluminium chloride.
  7. ^ Helmboldt O, Keith Hudson L, Misra C, Wefers K, Heck W, Stark H, et al. (2007). "Aluminum Compounds, Inorganic". Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry. Weinheim: Wiley-VCH. doi:10.1002/14356007.a01_527.pub2. ISBN 978-3527306732.