Boron trichloride (BCl₃) is trigonal planar due to its three equivalent bonding pairs of electrons around the boron atom, which leads to a symmetrical arrangement with 120-degree bond angles. In contrast, aluminum chloride (AlCl₃) is polymeric in nature, especially in solid form, because it tends to form a network of Al-Cl bonds through dimerization and further polymerization, resulting in a three-dimensional structure. This occurs due to the presence of vacant d-orbitals in aluminum, allowing for coordination with multiple chloride ions, unlike the electron-deficient boron in BCl₃.
Aluminum has no lone pairs of electrons in its ground state. It has three valence electrons, which it typically uses to form bonds, resulting in a stable configuration without any unbonded pairs. In compounds, aluminum often forms three bonds, such as in aluminum chloride (AlCl3), where it adopts a trigonal planar geometry.
AlCl3 at high temperatres in the vapor phase is molcular, planar AlCl3. with polar covalent bonds. In the melt and at lower temperatures in the vapor phase it is dimeric, Al2Cl6 with two bridging Cl atoms ( Cl2AlCl2AlCl2), each aluminium atom is approximately surrounded by a tetrahedron of Cl atoms. in the solid the structure has each Al surrounded by 6 Cl atoms and the bonding is more ionic in nature. As the solid is heated just before it melts the electrical conductivity rises due to the presence of ions.
First, draw an AlCl3 molecule, in dot-structure. You will see that in the molecule, Aluminum has only 6 electrons, 3 of which are shared with the chlorine atoms. It needs 2 more electrons to become more stable (8 electrons in the outer shell is usually stable). Now look at the chlorine atom in the AlCl3 molecule.It has 8 electrons, and thus, it is somewhat "stable". If a Chlorine atom from ANOTHER AlCl3 molecule formed a dative bond with the Aluminum atom(a dative bond is a covalent bond where both shared electrons come from just one species. In this case, both electrons come from the chlorine atom), this Al atom would now have 8 electrons as well. That is why AlCl3 exists as a dimer- as Al2Cl6 . It's structure is shown in this picture.
AlCl3
Anhydrous AlCl3 refers to aluminum chloride that is free from water molecules. It is a dry, solid compound that is commonly used as a catalyst in chemical reactions. Its anhydrous form is important in certain reactions where the presence of water can interfere with the desired outcome.
trigonal planar
Trigonal Planar
It depends on the phase and the temperature Solid AlCl3 has each aluminium is 6 coordinate, surrounded by 6 chlorine atoms in an octahedral formation. The best description here is a ionic bonding. Interestingly just below melt temperature the conductivity rises indicating free ions. AlCl3 in the melt is found as dimer Al2Cl6 with four coordinate aluminium. Two chlorines bridging the aluminium atoms. In this aluminium achieves its octet and the bond angles are in line with VSEPR theory. At high temperature the dimers dissociate to monomeric AlCl3 which is trigonal planar, following VSEPR theory.
No, AlCl3 does not have a dipole moment because the molecule is symmetrical and the dipole moments of the individual bond dipoles cancel each other out. The aluminum atom is surrounded by three chlorine atoms in a trigonal planar arrangement, resulting in a symmetrical distribution of charge.
Solid AlCl3 is ionic. Liquid and gaseous AlCl3 is present as a covalent dimer, Al2Cl6. At high temperatures the dimer dissociates to form the planar covalent monomer AlCl3.
Aluminum has no lone pairs of electrons in its ground state. It has three valence electrons, which it typically uses to form bonds, resulting in a stable configuration without any unbonded pairs. In compounds, aluminum often forms three bonds, such as in aluminum chloride (AlCl3), where it adopts a trigonal planar geometry.
Unhydrated AlCl3 has a covalent nature because it exists as discrete molecules with covalent bonds between aluminum and chlorine atoms. When AlCl3 is hydrated, water molecules bind to the Al3+ cation through ionic interactions, disrupting the covalent bonds within AlCl3 molecules and shifting the overall nature of the compound to ionic.
AlCl3 at high temperatres in the vapor phase is molcular, planar AlCl3. with polar covalent bonds. In the melt and at lower temperatures in the vapor phase it is dimeric, Al2Cl6 with two bridging Cl atoms ( Cl2AlCl2AlCl2), each aluminium atom is approximately surrounded by a tetrahedron of Cl atoms. in the solid the structure has each Al surrounded by 6 Cl atoms and the bonding is more ionic in nature. As the solid is heated just before it melts the electrical conductivity rises due to the presence of ions.
First, draw an AlCl3 molecule, in dot-structure. You will see that in the molecule, Aluminum has only 6 electrons, 3 of which are shared with the chlorine atoms. It needs 2 more electrons to become more stable (8 electrons in the outer shell is usually stable). Now look at the chlorine atom in the AlCl3 molecule.It has 8 electrons, and thus, it is somewhat "stable". If a Chlorine atom from ANOTHER AlCl3 molecule formed a dative bond with the Aluminum atom(a dative bond is a covalent bond where both shared electrons come from just one species. In this case, both electrons come from the chlorine atom), this Al atom would now have 8 electrons as well. That is why AlCl3 exists as a dimer- as Al2Cl6 . It's structure is shown in this picture.
Aluminum chloride (AlCl3) is an ionic compound, with aluminum typically forming a +3 cation and chlorine forming a -1 anion to bond together. In the solid state, aluminum chloride exists as a lattice structure of alternating Al3+ and Cl- ions held together by strong ionic bonds.
Yes, AlCl3 is a strong electrolyte.
AlCl3