Copper (ii) chloride Aluminium reaction

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This is a replacement reaction were elemental aluminium is converted to Aluminium Chloride in this proses. Copper(ii) chloride is a lewis acid so causes the formation of hydrogen gas. This reduces the Copper(ii) ions to elemental copper

Incase anyone is wondering the aluminium used was spherical in shape and 200mesh in size

2Al(s) + 3CuCl2 (aq) = 2AlCl3 (Aq) + 3Cu(s)

also a side reaction that occurs due to unprotected Al being exposed to water is

2Al (s) + 6H20 (l) = 2Al(OH)3 (aq) + 3H2 (g)

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Panasonic
• lumix
• TS1
• CuCl2
• Al
• Aluminium
• Copper
• Chloride
• Copper(ii)chloride
• thermite
• replacement
• redox
• oxidation

[jzlACoSTE]

copper*

[Ralphgtx280]

@jzlACoSTE Thanks for that  I'm surprised no one else noticed yet

[fesss83]

Here are at least two or even may be three reactions:

1-st is 3CuCl2 + 2Al = 2AlCl3 + 3Cu(precipitate)

2-nd is AlCl3 + H2O = AlCl3 * 6H2O (hexahydrate) + t(a lot of heat - water starts to boil)

and if 3-rd reaction takes place, then it is definitely 2Al + 3H2O = Al2O3 + 3H2

[Ralphgtx280]

@fesss83 Yep Ive got the equations in the description. I don't feel the hydration of the aluminium is nessisary to include as the equation I gave stated that reactants and product (where appropriate) where in an aqueous state

also the reaction of aluminium with water is definitely occurring, off camera I ignited some of the gasses coming off and they burned well, If you would Like I can take a stoichiometric mix of Al and CuCl2 and put them in water and a green colour will be seen

[plrokster309]

@Ralphgtx280 If the unprotected aluminum is reacting with the water, then why doesn't aluminum foil react water vapor in the air?

[Ralphgtx280]

@plrokster309 Thanks for your question, Aluminium selfe pasivates (forms a protective oxide layer) this protects the Aluminium from further reaction an experiment you can do at home is to take a piece of aluminium (must be thicker than foil) and sand it with some fine sand paper you will see nice bright metallic aluminium beneath mark the shiny area with a permanent texta than leave it and eventually you will notice the color returns to the original

[magert123]

what does it mean when green crystals appear at the end of reaction?

[jzlACoSTE]

@Ralphgtx280 haha you're welcome (:

[Ralphgtx280]

@cristiquehan I added to reactions to the info bar sorry for leaving them out

[cristiquehan]

what is the chemical eqution of this reaction