AlCl₃ (Aluminum Chloride) [Neurosurgery Wiki]

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====== AlCl₃ (Aluminum Chloride) ======

**Chemical formula**: AlCl₃  
**Common name**: Aluminum chloride  
**Molar mass**: 133.34 g/mol  
**Appearance**: White to yellowish crystalline solid (anhydrous) or colorless solution (hydrated)  
**Density**: 2.44 g/cm³ (anhydrous)  
**Melting point**: 192.4 °C (anhydrous, sublimates)  
**Boiling point**: 180 °C (decomposes)  

===== 🧪 Chemical Properties =====
  * Highly hygroscopic — absorbs water from air and forms **AlCl₃·6H₂O**  
  * Acts as a **Lewis acid** — strong electron pair acceptor  
  * Forms covalent bonds in vapor/gas phase, but ionic in hydrated form  
  * Reacts violently with water, releasing heat and hydrochloric acid  

===== ⚗️ Uses =====
  * **Catalyst** in Friedel–Crafts alkylation and acylation reactions  
  * **Polymerization catalyst** in petrochemical industry  
  * Used in manufacture of **rubber, lubricants, dyes, and pharmaceuticals**  
  * Etching agent in **metallurgy and electronics**  

===== ☣️ Safety and Hazards =====
  * **Corrosive** to skin, eyes, and mucous membranes  
  * Inhalation of fumes can cause respiratory tract irritation  
  * Reacts exothermically with water → handle with extreme care  
  * Store in **dry, airtight containers** away from moisture  

===== 🔬 Industrial Notes =====
  * Commonly used in **anhydrous form** for organic synthesis  
  * Hydrated form (AlCl₃·6H₂O) is more stable but less reactive in catalytic applications  
  * In the presence of moisture, releases HCl fumes  

===== 📚 References =====
  * [[https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Aluminum-chloride|PubChem: Aluminum Chloride]]  
  * [[https://www.chemeurope.com/en/encyclopedia/Aluminium_chloride.html|Chemeurope: Aluminium Chloride]]