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

  1. ^ Totten, George E.; MacKenzie, D. Scott (2003). Handbook of Aluminum. CRC Press. ISBN 0824708962. 
  2. ^ 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.