What is the structure of Aluminium Chloride at 180, 192.4 (melting point) and 200 degrees celsius? When does it exist as an ionic lattice and when as a Al2Cl6 dimer?
Aluminium chloride sublimes (turns straight from a solid to a gas) at about 180°C. If it simply contained ions it would have a very high melting and boiling point because of the strong attractions between the positive and negative ions. The implication is that it when it sublimes at this relatively low temperature, it must be covalent. The dots-and-crosses diagram shows only the outer electrons. Hope that help Check here for more information; www.chemguide .uk/atoms/bonding...
