Al2O3 can be converted to anhydrous AlCl3 by heating:
Al2O3 with HCl gas
Al2O3 with NaCl in solid-state
a mixture of Al2O3 and carbon in dry Cl2 gas
Al2O3 with Cl2 gas
Anhydrous aluminium chloride (AlCl3) is prepared industrially by heating a mixture of alumina (Al2O3) and coke (carbon) in a current of dry chlorine gas. The carbon acts as a reducing agent to help break the strong Al-O bonds, combining with the oxygen to form carbon monoxide. The chemical reaction is: Al2O3 + 3C + 3Cl2 → 2AlCl3 + 3CO. Heating Al2O3 with HCl gas yields hydrated aluminium chloride, not anhydrous.
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