Is aluminum chloride a covalent or ionic compound?

Answer 1

Aluminum chloride is an ionic compound because aluminum is a metal and chlorine is a nonmetal. When a metal and a nonmetal are combined they make up an ionic compound.

Incorrect.

Aluminium Chloride is covalent.

Answer 2

It's a metal salt, so ionic.

- Wow, this answer is so simplified that it is totally incorrect. Sure, at the level of GCSE a metal + non-metal is ionic. However, due to the small difference between electronegativities of Aluminium and Chlorine (1.55) and the large charge density to size ratio of Aluminium, the chlorines are unable to completey remove the electrons from the Aluminium. Instead the electrons are shared, hence 3 single covalent bonds are formed. How else can you explain the fact that Aluminium Chloride sublimes at 180°C. ?? Not typical of an ionic compound !! Both Iodine and Carbon Dioxide sublime - both covalent.

Aluminium Chloride is COVALENT

Answer 3

Aluminum chloride is an ionic compound. It is formed by the transfer of electrons from aluminum to chlorine, resulting in the formation of Al3+ cations and Cl- anions which are held together by electrostatic forces of attraction.