Aluminum chloride Chemical Properties

Melting point:

194 °C

Boiling point:

180°C

Density 

2.44

vapor pressure 

1 mm Hg ( 100 °C)

Flash point:

88 °C

storage temp. 

Store below +30°C.

solubility 

H₂O: soluble

form 

powder

color 

Yellow to gray

Specific Gravity

2.44

PH Range

2.4

PH

2.4 (100g/l, H2O, 20℃)

Odor

Hydrogen chloride odor detectable when exposed to moist air

Water Solubility 

reacts

Sensitive 

Moisture Sensitive

Crystal Structure

AlCl3 type

crystal system

Monoclinic

Merck 

14,337

Space group

C2/m

Lattice constant

a/nm	b/nm	c/nm	α/o	β/o	γ/o	V/nm3
0.615	1.023	0.591	90	108.25	90	0.3534

Exposure limits

NIOSH: TWA 2 mg/m3

Stability:

Stable, but reacts violently with water. Prolonged storage may lead to pressure build-up - vent container periodically. Incompatible with alcohols and a variety of other materials (see complete MSDS sheet for full list).

InChIKey

VSCWAEJMTAWNJL-UHFFFAOYSA-K

CAS DataBase Reference

7446-70-0(CAS DataBase Reference)

NIST Chemistry Reference

Aluminum trichloride(7446-70-0)

EPA Substance Registry System

Aluminum chloride (7446-70-0)

Safety Information

Hazard Codes 

C,Xi,T

Risk Statements 

36/38-34-62-51/53-48/23/24-40-23/24/25-14-48/25-48/20-52-36/37/38-52/53-48/23/24/25-60

Safety Statements 

26-45-28-7/8-36/37/39-61-23-28A-53

RIDADR 

UN 3264 8/PG 3

WGK Germany 

1

RTECS 

BD0525000

TSCA 

Yes

HazardClass 

8

PackingGroup 

II

HS Code 

28273200

Hazardous Substances Data

7446-70-0(Hazardous Substances Data)

Toxicity

LD50 oral (rat) 3730 mg/kg
LD50 skin (rabbit) >2 g/kg
TLV-TWA (ACGIH) 2 mg(Al)/m3

MSDS

• Language:English Provider:SigmaAldrich
• Language:English Provider:ACROS
• Language:English Provider:ALFA

Aluminum chloride Usage And Synthesis

Description

White or light-yellow crystalline solid (or amorphous solid depending on the method of production); odor of HCl; hygroscopic; melts at 190°C at 2.5 atm; sublimes at 181.2°C; density 2.44 g/cm3 at 25°C; decomposes in water evolving heat; soluble in HCl; soluble in many organic solvents, including absolute ethanol, chloroform, carbon tetrachloride and ether; slightly soluble in benzene.

Aluminum chloride is important industrial chemical. Anhydrous Aluminum chloride is used as the catalyst in variety of Friedel-Crafts type of reactions. Large amounts of ethylbenzene are prepared in this way and are used to make styrene.
C6H6 + CH3CH2Cl + AlCl3→C6H5CH2CH3 + H+ + [AlCl4]-
Aluminum chloride is also used in the manufacture of anthraquinone (used in dyestuffs industry) and dodecylbenzene (used to make detergents) and in the isomerisation of hydrocarbons (petroleum industry).
Aluminum chloride reacts vigorously with water and fumes in air. It is used as a catalyst in cracking petroleum and in organic synthesis.

Uses

Aluminum chloride has extensive commercial applications. It is used primarily in the electrolytic production of aluminum. Another major use involves its catalytic applications in many organic reactions, including Friedel-Crafts alkylation, polymerization, isomerization, hydrocracking, oxidation, decarboxylation, and dehydrogenation. It is also used in the production of rare earth chlorides, electroplating of aluminum and in many metal finishing and metallurgical operations.

Preparation

Aluminum chloride is made by chlorination of molten aluminum at temperatures between 650 to 750°C;
2 Al + 3Cl2→ 2AlCl3
or by chlorination of alumina (bauxite or clay) at 800°C in the presence of a reducing agent, such as carbon or CO. It can be prepared by similar high temperature chlorination of bauxite in the presence of a chlorinated organic reductant such as CCl4.
A pelletized mixture of clay, lignite and a small amount of NaCl is chlorinated at 900°C, producing gaseous AlCl3 (Toth process). Alternatively, alumina is mixed with about 20% by weight carbon and a small amount of sodium salt. The mixture is chlorinated at 600°C (Bayer process).
In the laboratory, anhydrous AlCl3 can be prepared by heating the metal with dry HCl gas at 150°C. The product sublimes and deposits in the cool air condenser. Unreacted HCl is vented out.

Reaction

Reacts with calcium and magnesium hydrides in tetrahydrofuran forming tetrahydro aluminates, Ca(AlH4)2; reacts with hydrides of alkali metals in ether forming aluminum hydride;
Hydrolyzes in chilled, dilute HCl forming aluminum chloride hexahydrate, AlCl3⋅6H2O; reacts violently with water, evolving HCl,
AlCl3 + H2O ——› Al(OH)3 + HCl ↑

Chemical Properties

Aluminum chloride is a noncombustible but highly reactive whitish-gray, yellow, or green powder or liquid. Strong, acidic, irritating odor like hydrochloric acid.The vapor consists of double molecules Al2Cl6 . Soluble in water.

Uses

Astringent (topical).

Uses

A yellowish-white crystalline or granular powder made by passing chlorine gas over alumina in a heated state and collecting the product by sublimation. Aluminum chloride was occasionally used in gold and platinum toning baths.

Uses

Aluminum chloride is used as a catalyst in many organic reactions.

Definition

aluminium chloride: A whitishsolid, AlCl₃, which fumes in moist airand reacts violently with water (togive hydrogen chloride). It is knownas the anhydrous salt (hexagonal; r.d.2.44 (fused solid); m.p. 190°C (2.5atm.); sublimes at 178°C) or the hexahydrateAlCl₃.6H₂O (rhombic; r.d.2.398; loses water at 100°C), both ofwhich are deliquescent. Aluminiumchloride may be prepared by passinghydrogen chloride or chlorine overhot aluminium or (industrially) bypassing chlorine over heated aluminiumoxide and carbon. The chlorideion is polarized by the smallpositive aluminium ion and thebonding in the solid is intermediatebetween covalent and ionic. In theliquid and vapour phases dimer moleculesexist, Al₂Cl₆, in which thereare chlorine bridges making coordinatebonds to aluminium atoms (seeformula). The AlCl₃ molecule can alsoform compounds with other moleculesthat donate pairs of electrons(e.g. amines or hydrogen sulphide);i.e. it acts as a Lewis acid. At hightemperatures the Al₂Cl₆ molecules inthe vapour dissociate to (planar)AlCl₃ molecules. Aluminium chlorideis used commercially as a catalyst inthe cracking of oils. It is also a catalystin certain other organic reactions,especially the Friedel–Craftsreaction.

General Description

Aluminum chloride may be manufactured by chlorination of liquid aluminum in ceramic lined reaction vessels at 600-700^oC.

Reactivity Profile

ALUMINUM CHLORIDE behaves as an acidic salt. Self-reactive. After long storage in closed containers, explosions often occur upon opening [Chem. Abst. 41:6723d 1947]. Can cause ethylene(also other alkenes) to polymerize violently [J. Inst. Pet. 33:254 1947]. Causes ethylene oxide to rearrange and polymerize, liberating heat [J. Soc. Chem. Ind. 68:179 1949]. Can catalyze violent polymerization of allyl chloride [Ventrone 1971]. Addition to nitrobenzene containing about 5% phenol caused a violent explosion [Chem. Eng. News 31:4915 1953]. Mixtures with nitromethane may explode when organic matter is present [Chem. Eng. News 26:2257 1948].

Hazard

Powerful irritant to tissue; moderately toxic by ingestion. Reacts violently with water, evolving hydrogen chloride gas.

Health Hazard

Contact with the skin or eyes in the presence of moisture causes thermal and acid burns.

Fire Hazard

Behavior in Fire: Reacts violently with water used in extinguishing adjacent fires

Flammability and Explosibility

Aluminum chloride is not flammable but reacts violently with water, so fires involving this substance should be extinguished with carbon dioxide or dry chemicals. Toxic fumes (HCl and reaction products) can be released during fires.

Industrial uses

Aluminum chloride (AlCl3) is a volatile solid which sublimes at 458 K. The vapour formed on sublimation consists of an equilibrium mixture of monomers (AlCl3) and dimers (Al2Cl6). It is used to prepare the powerful and versatile reducing agent lithium tetrahydridoaluminate (LiAlH4). Aluminium trichloride (AlCl3) act as Lewis acids to a wide range of electron-pair donors, and this has led to their widespread use as catalysts. In the important Friedel-Crafts acylation, AlCl3 is used as a strong Lewis acid catalyst in order to achieve the acylation of an aromatic ring.

Industrial uses

Aluminum chloride (AlCl₃) act as Lewis acids to a wide range of electron-pair donors, and this has led to their widespread use as catalysts. In the important Friedel–Crafts acylation, AlCl₃ is used as a strong Lewis acid catalyst in order to achieve the acylation of an aromatic ring.

Safety Profile

Moderately toxic by ingestion. Experimental teratogenic and reproductive effects. Mutation data reported. The dust is an irritant by ingestion, inhalation, and skin contact. Highly exothermic polymerization reactions with alkenes. Incompatible with nitrobenaenes or nitrobenzene + phenol. Highly exothermic reaction with water or steam produces toxic fumes of HCl. See also ALUMINUM COMPOUNDS, CHLORIDES, and HYDROCHLORIC ACID.

Potential Exposure

It is used as ethylbenzene catalyst, dyestuff intermediate, and detergent alkylate; in making other chemicals and dyes, astringents, deodorants, in the petroleum refining, and the rubber industries

storage

work with this substance should be conducted in a fume hood, and impermeable gloves should be worn at all times when handling AlCl3. Aluminum chloride should be stored in sealed containers under an inert atmosphere in a cool, dry place. Care should be taken in opening containers of this compound because of the possibility of the buildup of HCl vapor from hydrolysis with traces of moisture.

Shipping

UN1726 Aluminum chloride, anhydrous, Hazard class: 8; Labels: 8-Corrosive material. UN2581 Aluminum chloride solution, Hazard class: 8; Labels: 8-Corrosive material

Purification Methods

Sublime it several times in an all-glass system under nitrogen at 30-50mm pressure. It has also been sublimed in a stream of dry HCl and has been subjected to a preliminary sublimation through a section of granular aluminium metal [for manipulative details see Jensen J Am Chem Soc 79 1226 1957]. It fumes in moist air.

Incompatibilities

A strong reducing agent. Contact with air or water forms hydrochloric acid and hydrogen chloride gas. Reaction with water may be violent. Water, alcohol, and alkenes can cause polymerization. Incompatible with nitrobenzene, organic material, and bases. Attacks metal in presence of moisture, forming flammable hydrogen gas.

Waste Disposal

May be sprayed with aqueous ammonia in the presence of ice and, when reaction is complete, flushed down drain with running water.

Aluminum chloride(7446-70-0)Related Product Information

• Aluminium chloride hexahydrate
• Aluminum chloride
• Aluminum ferric chloride,basic
• ALUMINUM SILICATE
• Aluminum sulfate
• Ammonium chloride
• Copper(II) chloride
• Sodium acetate
• Calcium chloride
• Cobalt chloride
• Lithium iodide
• Magnesium sulfate
• Nickel chloride
• Manganese chloride
• Lead(II) chloride
• Nickel(II) chloride hexahydrate
• Lanthanum(III) chloride
• Sodium chloride
• Aluminum Trichloride