Aluminium monochloride

Aluminium monochloride, or chloridoaluminium is the metal halide with the formula AlCl. Aluminium monochloride as a molecule is thermodynamically stable at high temperature and low pressure only.^[2] This compound is produced as a step in the Alcan process to smelt aluminium from an aluminium-rich alloy. When the alloy is placed in a reactor that is heated to 1,300 °C and mixed with aluminium trichloride, a gas of aluminium monochloride is produced.^[3]

2 Al(alloy) + AlCl₃(gas) → 3 AlCl(gas)

Aluminium monochloride

Names
IUPAC name Chloridoaluminium[1]
Other names Aluminium(I) chloride[citation needed]
Identifiers
CAS Number	13595-81-8 Y
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image
ChEBI	CHEBI:30131 Y
ChemSpider	4514257 Y
PubChem CID	5359282
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)	DTXSID40159602
InChI InChI=1S/Al.ClH/h;1H/q+1;/p-1 Y Key: IZMHKHHRLNWLMK-UHFFFAOYSA-M Y
SMILES [Al]Cl
Properties
Chemical formula	AlCl
Molar mass	62.43 g·mol−1
Thermochemistry
Std molar entropy (S⦵298)	227.95 J K−1 mol−1
Std enthalpy of formation (ΔfH⦵298)	-51.46 kJ mol−1
Related compounds
Related compounds	aluminium monofluoride gallium monofluoride
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). Y verify (what is YN ?) Infobox references

It then disproportionates into aluminium melt and aluminium trichloride upon cooling to 900 °C.

This molecule has been detected in the interstellar medium, where molecules are so dilute that intermolecular collisions are unimportant.^[4]

See also

• Aluminium monofluoride
• Aluminium monobromide
• Aluminium monoiodide

References

1. "chloridoaluminium (CHEBI:30131)". Chemical Entities of Biological Interest (ChEBI). UK: European Bioinformatics Institute.
2. Chase, M. W.; Curnutt, J. L.; Prophet, H.; McDonald, R. A.; Syverud, A. N. (1975-01-01). "JANAF thermochemical tables, 1975 supplement". Journal of Physical and Chemical Reference Data. 4 (1): 1–176. Bibcode:1975JPCRD...4....1C. doi:10.1063/1.555517. ISSN 0047-2689.
3. Totten, George E.; MacKenzie, D. Scott (2003). Handbook of Aluminum. CRC Press. ISBN 0-8247-0896-2.
4. J. Cernicharo, M. Guelin (1987). "Metals in IRC+10216 - Detection of NaCl, AlCl, and KCl, and tentative detection of AlF". Astronomy and Astrophysics. 183 (1): L10 – L12. Bibcode:1987A&A...183L..10C.