Question

Why is $AlC{l}_3$ a good catalyst?

Answer 1

$AlC{l}_3$:

• Aluminium trichloride or aluminium (III) chloride are the other names for aluminium chloride.
• $AlC{l}_3$ is the chemical formula for it. When it comes to aesthetics, aluminium chloride is typically white.
• Aluminium chloride is used to make aluminium metal in industry, but it also has a variety of functions in the chemical industry, specifically as a Lewis acid.
• Covalently bound solid aluminium chloride ($AlC{l}_3$) has a low melting and boiling temperature.

Reason for $AlC{l}_3$ a good catalyst:

• Aluminium chloride is an incredibly potent Lewis acid. A Lewis acid is a substance that can accept a pair of electrons.
• Aluminium chloride is primarily used in the chlorination process in Friedel Crafts reactions.
• Aluminium chloride is used to organise and break these bonds, resulting in the halogenation process.
• Aluminium chloride aids in the chlorination of aromatic compounds like benzene. In this procedure, $AlC{l}_3$ is regenerated, and $\mathrm{HCl}$ is formed as a by-product.
• $AlC{l}_3$ is also used as a catalyst in the Friedel Crafts acylation, which produces aromatic ketones as well as $\mathrm{HCl}$ as a by-product.
• In $AlC{l}_3$, aluminium possesses 6 electrons in its outermost shell, making it electron deficient. As a result, it can accept a pair of electrons.