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Name: Melanie D.
Status: educator
Age: 20s
Location: N/A
Country: N/A
Date: 12/7/2004
Question:
Is Aluminum chloride a molecular compound or an ionic compound? Does it have a trigonal planar geometry like Boron trichloride or is it just ionic?

Replies:
In the solid phase aluminum chloride is an ionic compound; however, in the vapor phase it is a dimer Al2Cl6 in which the two aluminum atoms are bridged by two Cl atoms. Like many metal salts the molecular structure depends upon the physical state of the substance.

Vince Calder


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