Opylation
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ZnCl2 + Al -> AlCl3
So I’m posting this right after I attempted a synth of AlCl3 that I was a little less than prepared for. So I’m posting to see if anyone else has
performed this reaction and what was their setup. I assumed, following chemplayers method that as long as I had adequate cooling and a longer
“column” than him I wouldn’t have any spillage. Boy was I WRONG! It looks like once this reaction starts, it practically belts out AlCl3. I had
a flask connected to a Claisen adapter, straight column capped, branched column connected to a 200mm length ‘U’ adapter. I let this roll with a
heating mantle instead of a gas burner and once the reaction started, it started bellowing AlCl3 everywhere. Like a fucking smoke bomb. I immediately
removed the flask from heat as I realized I was in way over my head with this. This reaction for sure should not be performed inside unless you have
flow hood for sure. I’ve been able to get away with a fan and a window open for a while but this one sure kicked my ass. I just thought I’d
mention my mishap for someone else thinking about doing this reaction. Man, chemplayer made it seem so easy too.
On a side note, my product happen to have a dark brown contaminant that I’m quite sure what it was. I’m thinking FeCl3, my aluminum was powdered
and bought off of eBay. Btw, the jackass who sold me it packed it in a folded over bag. As soon as I opened it up, bam, everywhere... pretty pissed
about it actually. Anyways, I’ll stop yapping
[Edited on 22-6-2020 by Opylation]
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Refinery
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When I was thinking how to scrub Cl2 gas that forms during another process, I thought could it be used to produce AlCl3 by passing it over finely
ground al foil?
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volta
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The same thing happens even without Zinc, but with HCl acid instead of Zinc.
Because the guilty reactant is Al. I once tried to make Al bomb by putting Alu foil in 19% HCl acid bottle, and throwing it 20 m away from me. I was
amazed by the sound of it. The plastic bottle ripped apart, and make such strong sound that whole village heard it and reacted with fear and worry.
Even my dog and sheep reacted, although they were not close to it. Sheep started running into forest, and dog into his house. I thought it was atomic
bomb exploding. I am pretty sure the villagers and citizens from nearby cities and villages 50 km away must have heard it. Definitely it was louder
than typical fireworks like those used for New Year, and louder than any shotgun and gun I heard so far. I stayed in shock for one hour, although
previously I thought there must be nothing louder than old shotgun used for killing village animals.
We should use general tricks to contain such reaction such as reducing surface area of metals. I see you used powder, which is max surface area. I
used aluminium foil instead, which when squeezed, give much less surface area in contact with acid.
Also I tried measuring voltage and current of Al foild in contact with acid, and whoa! It was few amperes, and voltage as it said on reduction
potential wikipedia page, definitely enough to power a laptop.
As for that dark color of dissolved Al in acid. I am not sure is it coming from the acid or Al, because I did not try reacting Al with other acid
recently, but remember that always dark color is produced. It becomes less dark as Al chloride cools down. Tested on bought alu foil and chocolate alu
foil.
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Opylation
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I love the story haha one of those “oh shit” moments. But I am not speaking of an AlCl3 solution but an AlCl3 anhydrous powder. One of my reagents
was not anhydrous as there was some condensation within the reaction flask however there was a decent amount of dry white AlCl3. I’m wondering if
feeding the reaction into an ice cold solution of some solvent that AlCl3 is insoluble in. That way I could evaporate the solution to get anhydrous
AlCl3
I was also thinking maybe a balloon would be a good reception vessel? It can expand and once full can be easily dumped into a more permanent
container?
[Edited on 22-6-2020 by Opylation]
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Refinery
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The article states that the reaction temp is 650-750C, so I wonder if chlorine is uncreactive with solid state aluminum?
2 Al + 3 Cl2 → 2 AlCl3
If this works as is, chlorine gas generated could be led at anhydrous conditions to al shreddings and when ready, AlCl3 sublimed at 180C to extract
pure form.
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Mateo_swe
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Quote: Originally posted by Opylation  | | I’m wondering if feeding the reaction into an ice cold solution of some solvent that AlCl3 is insoluble in. That way I could evaporate the solution
to get anhydrous AlCl3 |
I dont think you cant evaporate off the solvent in ordinary conditions as the AlCl3 would pick up moisture from the air very fast.
Maybe it will work evaporate the solvent using vacuum but then how you remove the vacuum without introducing moisture?
Using a drying tube and very slowly let air in, maybe.
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