337. Aluminum Chloride

Nomenclature

CAS number: 7446-70-0
AlCl3; mol wt 133.34.
Al 20.24%, Cl 79.77%.

Description and references

Prepd from aluminum metal in a heated stream of HCl gas: Gattermann-Wieland, Praxis des Organischen Chemikers (de Gruyter, Berlin, 40th ed., 1961) p 295; H. J. Becher in Handbook of Preparative Inorganic Chemistry vol. 1, G. Brauer, Ed. (Academic Press, New York, 2nd ed., 1963) p 812. Manufacture: Faith, Keyes & Clark's Industrial Chemicals, F. A. Lowenheim, M. K. Moran, Eds. (Wiley-Interscience, New York, 4th ed., 1975) pp 72-75. Monograph: ACS Monograph Series no. 87, entitled “Anhydrous Aluminum Chloride in Organic Chemistry,” C. A. Thomas, Ed. (Reinhold, New York, 1941).

Properties

White when pure; ordinarily gray or yellow to greenish deliquescent, crystalline powder. Practically odorless and has a sweet, very astringent taste. Fumes in air; strong odor of HCl; when heated in small quantities volatilizes without melting. Corrosive. Keep tightly closed and protected from moisture. Combines with water with explosive violence and liberation of much heat. Very sol in water; freely sol in many organic solvents, such as alcohol, benzophenone, benzene nitrobenzene, carbon tetrachloride, chloroform. Sol in glycerin. For physical properties see C. A. Thomas, loc. cit.

Derivative

Hexahydrate.

Nomenclature

CAS number: 7784-13-6
Anhydrol (Dermal); Driclor (Stiefel); Drysol (Person & Covey); Xerac (Person & Covey).

Properties

Colorless crystals, or white or slightly yellow deliquesc, cryst powder; odorless or slight HCl odor. One gram dissolves in 0.9 ml water, 4 ml alc; sol in ether, glycerol, propylene glycol. Keep well closed.

Caution

Direct contact with anhydrous form may cause skin, eye and respiratory system irritation; may cause severe eye and skin burns.

Use

The anhydrous form suitable as an acid catalyst, esp in Friedel-Crafts type reactions; in cracking of petroleum; in manuf rubbers, lubricants. The hexahydrate form used in preserving wood; disinfecting stables, slaughterhouses, etc.; in deodorants and antiperspirant preparations; refining crude oil; dyeing fabrics; manuf parchment paper.

Therapeutic Category

The hexahydrate as anhidrotic.

Keywords

Astringent