Sciencemadness Discussion Board

Stabilization of aluminum hypochlorite

symboom - 14-7-2018 at 12:09

A reaction of aluminum sulfate and sodium hypochlorite forms a thick aluminum percipitate and a chlorine like smell and bubbles are formed aluminum sulfate decomposes the sodium hypochlorite by formation of insouble aluminum hypochlorite im trying the reaction at low temperature aluminum hypochlorite is unstable beyond that i dont have any more info for aluminum hypochlorite.


[Edited on 14-7-2018 by symboom]

[Edited on 14-7-2018 by symboom]

CobaltChloride - 14-7-2018 at 12:14

What you have there might just be aluminium hydroxide. The precipitate of Al(OH)3 is gelatinous and forms a thick gel. The aluminium ion is way too acidic to have a stable hypochlorite.

woelen - 17-7-2018 at 01:51

Solutions of sodium hypochlorite usually contain quite some sodium hydroxide as well. They are made from Cl2 and NaOH and some excess NaOH is left in solution to keep the bleach more stable. This gives the precipitate of Al(OH)3. Besides that, as mentioned by CobaltChloride, aluminium ion itself is quite acidic and it easily hydrolyses to give aluminium hydroxide and acid. This acid can lead to formation of some Cl2.

AJKOER - 18-7-2018 at 13:28

My recollection is that the shelf life of Al(OCl)3 is short and old commercial applications prepared it on site from Ca(OCl)2 acting on aqueous Al2(SO4)3, producing the hypochlorite and a white precipitate of CaSO4, just prior to use.

The Ca(OCl)2 should be in excess as aqueous Al2(SO4)3 is acidic and will feed a chlorine formation reaction.

[Edited on 18-7-2018 by AJKOER]