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

JW

Related Chemistry A Level answers

All answers ▸

What is electronegativity?


Draw the shape of an SF6 and SF4 molecule, indicating bond angles and any lone pairs which may influence these. What shape is the SF6 molecule?


What is enthalpy and how can it be calculated?


Describe the structure of benzene, and how this affects its stability.