Aluminium monochloride
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Aluminium monochloride | |
---|---|
IUPAC name | Aluminium monochloride |
Other names | Aluminium(I) chloride |
Molecular formula | AlCl |
Identifiers | |
CAS number | [13595-81-8] |
Properties | |
Molar mass | 62.435 g/mol |
Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa) Infobox disclaimer and references |
Aluminium monochloride is the metal halide with the formula AlCl. This compound is produced as a step in the Alcan process to smelt aluminium from an aluminium-rich alloy. When the alloy is placed in a reactor that is heated to 1,300° C and mixed with aluminium trichloride, a gas of aluminium monochloride is produced.[1]
- 2[Al]{alloy} + AlCl3{gas} -> 3AlCl{gas}
It then disproportionates into aluminium melt and aluminium trichloride upon cooling to 900° C.
This molecule has been detected in the interstellar medium, where molecules are so dilute that intermolecular collisions are unimportant.[2]
[edit] References
- ^ Totten, George E.; MacKenzie, D. Scott (2003). Handbook of Aluminum. CRC Press. ISBN 0824708962.
- ^ J. Cernicharo, M. Guelin (1987). "Metals in IRC+10216 - Detection of NaCl, AlCl, and KCl, and tentative detection of AlF". Astronomy and Astrophysics 183 (1): L10-L12.