Why does AlCl3 form the dimer Al2Cl6?

AlCl3 has a trigonal planar structure. There is an aluminium atom with 3 sp2 hybridised orbitals which bond to 3 chlorine atoms. The bond angle is 120 degrees. Each chlorine atom shares 1 electron with aluminium in the chemical bond in order to complete it's valence shell. Aluminium has 3 valence electrons and gets 3 more by sharing one with each of the 3 chlorine atoms which brings its total valence electron count to 6 electrons. In order to complete its electron shell aluminium requires 2 more electrons. Chlorine has 6 electrons which aren't involved in bonding which form 3 non bonding pairs. In order to complete aluminium's valence electron shell two AlCl3 molecules dimerise. A chlorine atom from each of the two molecules forms a dative covalent bond with one of its lone electron pairs to the aluminium centre making the molecule Al2Cl6

Answered by Jonathan W. Chemistry tutor

51375 Views

See similar Chemistry A Level tutors

Related Chemistry A Level answers

All answers ▸

Predict the number of peaks in a carbon-13 NMR spectrum of the following carbonyl isomers of C5H8O. (i) CH3CH2CH2CH2CHO (ii) (CH3)3CCHO (iii) CH3COCH(CH3)2


what is entropy in terms of disorder?


Aminoethane can be prepared by a reduction reaction. Identify a starting compound that can be used to prepare aminoethane by reduction, give the necessary reagent and write an equation for the reaction.


Explain why first ionisation energy decreases down a group.


We're here to help

contact us iconContact usWhatsapp logoMessage us on Whatsapptelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

© MyTutorWeb Ltd 2013–2025

Terms & Conditions|Privacy Policy
Cookie Preferences