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# Chemical Properties ## Physical State * **Aluminum chloride** exists as hygroscopic, white or yellowish crystals. * **Solubility:** It is soluble in water. ## Reactions ### With Water * Aluminum chloride reacts violently with water, generating heat and fumes of hydrochloric acid. $...

# Chemical Properties ## Physical State * **Aluminum chloride** exists as hygroscopic, white or yellowish crystals. * **Solubility:** It is soluble in water. ## Reactions ### With Water * Aluminum chloride reacts violently with water, generating heat and fumes of hydrochloric acid. $AlCl_3(s) + 3H_2O(l) \rightarrow Al(OH)_3(s) + 3HCl(g)$ ### With Sodium Hydroxide * Aluminum chloride reacts with sodium hydroxide to form a precipitate of aluminum hydroxide, which dissolves in excess sodium hydroxide solution. $AlCl_3(aq) + 3NaOH(aq) \rightarrow Al(OH)_3(s) + 3NaCl(aq)$ $Al(OH)_3(s) + NaOH(aq) \rightarrow NaAlO_2(aq) + 2H_2O(l)$ **Note:** $NaAlO_2$ is sodium meta-aluminate. ### As a Lewis Acid * Aluminum chloride acts as a Lewis acid, forming adducts with Lewis bases, e.g., ammonia. $AlCl_3 + NH_3 \rightarrow AlCl_3NH_3$ ### Friedel-Crafts Reactions * Aluminum chloride is widely used as a catalyst in Friedel-Crafts alkylation and acylation reactions. **Alkylation:** $RCl + C_6H_6 \xrightarrow{AlCl_3} C_6H_5R + HCl$ **Acylation:** $RCOCl + C_6H_6 \xrightarrow{AlCl_3} C_6H_5COR + HCl$