Question

What is aqueous solution of aluminium chloride?

Answer 1

Properties of Aluminium Chloride (${\mathrm{AlCl}}_3$):

• Aluminium chloride is considered as one of the most powerful Lewis acid.
• It is used in many reactions as a catalyst.
• Example: In the formation of complex ketones, aldehydes and carboxylic acid derivatives, alkylation of paraffin and aromatic hydrocarbons by olefins,

Chemical Reaction

• Aqueous aluminium chloride is prepared by dissolving aluminium with concentrated Hydrochloric acid$\left(\mathrm{HCl}\right)$.
• After reacting with $\left(\mathrm{HCl}\right)$ the compound reacts with a water molecule and forms aqueous solution.
• Reaction can be shown as:

$2\mathrm{Al}\left(\mathrm{s}\right)+6\mathrm{HCl}\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)\stackrel{}{\to }2{\mathrm{AlCl}}_3\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)+3{\mathrm{H}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right)$

${\mathrm{AlCl}}_3\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)+6{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)\stackrel{}{\to }{\mathrm{AlCl}}_3.6{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)$