Aluminum chloride is written AlCl₃. With school atomic masses the molar mass is 133.5 g/mol. Anhydrous aluminum chloride does not form an ionic lattice like NaCl.
H₂O
WaterNH₃
AmmoniaCO₂
Carbon DioxideH₂O₂
Hydrogen PeroxideSO₂
Sulfur DioxideNO₂
Nitrogen DioxideHCl
Hydrochloric AcidH₂SO₄
Sulfuric AcidHNO₃
Nitric AcidCH₄
MethaneC₂H₆
EthaneC₃H₈
PropaneC₄H₁₀
ButaneC₂H₄
EthyleneC₂H₂
AcetyleneC₆H₆
BenzeneC₇H₈
TolueneC₁₀H₈
NaphthaleneC₆H₁₂
CyclohexaneCH₃OH
MethanolC₂H₅OH
EthanolCH₃COOH
Acetic AcidHCHO
FormaldehydeCH₃COCH₃
AcetoneC₄H₁₀O
Diethyl EtherC₂H₇N
EthylamineC₂H₅NO
AcetamideC₆H₁₂O₆
GlucoseC₆H₁₂O₆
FructoseC₁₂H₂₂O₁₁
SucroseCO(NH₂)₂
UreaC₂₇H₄₆O
CholesterolC₉H₈O₄
AspirinC₈H₉NO₂
AcetaminophenC₁₃H₁₈O₂
IbuprofenC₈H₁₀N₄O₂
CaffeineC₆H₆N₂O
NicotinamideC₆H₈O₆
Ascorbic AcidC₁₆H₁₈N₂O₄S
Penicillin GC₂H₆O₂
Ethylene GlycolC₈H₈
StyreneC₂H₃Cl
Vinyl ChlorideC₃H₅NO
AcrylamideC₆H₁₁NO
CaprolactamLiCl
Lithium chlorideNa₂O
Sodium oxideNaCl
Sodium chlorideMgF₂
Magnesium fluorideAlCl₃
Aluminum chlorideCaO
Calcium oxideCaC₂
Calcium carbideKNO₃
Potassium nitrateMg₃(PO₄)₂
Magnesium phosphateAl₂(SO₄)₃
Aluminum sulfateMg(OH)₂
Magnesium hydroxideNH₄Cl
Ammonium chlorideNH₄OH
Ammonium hydroxideCuO
Copper(II) oxideCu₂O
Copper(I) oxideFeSO₄
Iron(II) sulfateFe₂(SO₄)₃
Iron(III) sulfatePbCO₃
Lead(II) carbonateMgO
Magnesium oxideAl₂S₃
Aluminum sulfideLiF
Lithium fluoride(NH₄)₂S
Ammonium sulfideKF
Potassium fluorideNiCl₂
Nickel(II) chlorideKCN
Potassium cyanideCH₃COONa
Sodium acetateCaCO₃
Calcium carbonateNa₃P
Sodium phosphideBeBr₂
Beryllium bromideFeO
Iron(II) oxideHg₂Cl₂
Mercury(I) chlorideHg(NO₃)₂
Mercury(II) nitrateCH₃COOCu
Copper(I) acetateSiO₂
Silicon dioxideP₄O₁₀
Tetraphosphorus decaoxideN₂O₅
Dinitrogen pentoxideCO
Carbon monoxideHF
Hydrogen fluoridePCl₅
Phosphorus pentachlorideCF₄
Carbon tetrafluorideSF₆
Sulfur hexafluorideNBr₃
Nitrogen tribromideN₂O
Dinitrogen monoxideN₂O₃
Dinitrogen trioxideCS₂
Carbon disulfideCl₂O₇
Dichlorine heptoxideBF₃
Boron trifluorideCCl₄
Carbon tetrachlorideSO₃
Sulfur trioxideSiCl₄
Silicon tetrachlorideP₂S₅
Diphosphorus pentasulfideBCl₃
Boron trichloridePBr₃
Phosphorus tribromideCBr₄
Carbon tetrabromideNF₃
Nitrogen trifluorideOF₂
Oxygen difluorideNCl₃
Nitrogen trichlorideH₂S
Hydrogen sulfidePH₃
PhosphineBeCl₂
Beryllium chlorideHCN
Hydrogen cyanideClF₃
Chlorine trifluorideXeF₂
Xenon difluorideTrigonal planar
Trigonal planar
Anhydrous aluminum chloride does not form an ionic lattice like NaCl. The solid is built from chlorine-bridged layers, and on heating it vaporizes as the covalent Al₂Cl₆ dimer. The formula is AlCl₃ because aluminum is +3, so the name omits (III). Aluminum has an incomplete octet, which makes the compound a strong Lewis acid. The model shows the AlCl₃ unit.
Properties
Molar mass
133.33 g/mol
Sublimation point
180 °C
Bond type
Covalent
Uses
Friedel–Crafts catalyst · Lewis acid in organic synthesis
Molar mass calculation
Masses given in the question come first. When none are given, school values put the total at 133.5 g/mol.
+
= 133.5 g/mol
AlCl₃
The same count with periodic-table atomic masses gives 133.332 g/mol.
| Element | Atom count | Contribution (g/mol) | Mass % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aluminum (Al) | 1 | 26.982 | 20.2 |
| Chlorine (Cl) | 3 | 106.350 | 79.8 |
| Total | 133.332 | 100 |
Common questions
What is aluminum chloride?
Anhydrous aluminum chloride does not form an ionic lattice like NaCl. The solid is built from chlorine-bridged layers, and on heating it vaporizes as the covalent Al₂Cl₆ dimer. The formula is AlCl₃ because aluminum is +3, so the name omits (III). Aluminum has an incomplete octet, which makes the compound a strong Lewis acid. The model shows the AlCl₃ unit.
What is the formula of aluminum chloride?
Aluminum chloride is written AlCl₃.
What is the molar mass of aluminum chloride?
Aluminum chloride has a molar mass of 133.332 g/mol from the atomic masses on the periodic table. With school atomic masses the total is 133.5 g/mol, counting 1 aluminum and 3 chlorine.
What is aluminum chloride used for?
Aluminum chloride is used for friedel–Crafts catalyst and lewis acid in organic synthesis.