Aluminium

Sodium aluminium fluoride, universally known by its mineral name cryolite, is a strategically important compound. Its high‑temperature properties govern the economics of aluminium metal production. It appears as glassy, white, or colorless chunks, and its role in the Hall‑Héroult smelting process makes it one of the most manufactured inorganic compounds on Earth. 1. Basic Identification … Read more

Aluminium titanate is a high‑performance engineered ceramic with an exceptionally low coefficient of thermal expansion. It is a stoichiometric blend of alumina and titania, appearing as a white to pale yellow, porous, lightweight ceramic. It excels in environments prone to thermal shock, making it the gold standard for diesel particulate filters and molten metal handling. … Read more

Aluminium telluride is a binary compound of aluminium and tellurium. It is a highly moisture‑sensitive, rare chalcogenide that decomposes in water to release hydrogen telluride (H₂Te) – an extremely toxic, foul‑smelling gas similar to hydrogen sulfide but even more hazardous. Due to its instability and toxicity, it has no consumer applications and is used only … Read more

Aluminium sulfide is a highly moisture‑sensitive inorganic compound. It appears as a dull grey to yellowish solid and is infamous for its foul odor resulting from reaction with ambient moisture. It serves as a specialized laboratory reagent to generate hydrogen sulfide gas on demand. 1. Basic Identification 2. Physical Properties Property Aluminum Sulfide Melting Point … Read more

Potassium alum, globally recognized simply as “alum,” is an ancient, highly useful double sulfate salt. Documented since antiquity for clarifying water and tanning leather, it remains a household staple. It forms large, clear octahedral crystals and is known for its sharp astringency. Today, it is used in natural crystal deodorants, pickling crisping agents, and styptic … Read more

Aluminium sulfate is an important industrial chemical, commonly referred to as “alum” (though strictly, alums are double sulfates). It appears as a white crystalline solid that is highly soluble in water. It is the backbone of municipal water treatment, serving as the definitive flocculent that delivers clear drinking water. 1. Basic Identification 2. Physical Properties … Read more

Aluminium selenide is a binary compound of aluminium and selenium. It is a highly reactive, moisture‑sensitive material that decomposes violently in water to release hydrogen selenide (H₂Se) – an extremely toxic, foul‑smelling gas. Due to its instability and toxicity, it is not a consumer product but is used in specialized laboratory and semiconductor applications as … Read more

Aluminium nitride is a highly advanced technical ceramic distinct from typical aluminium halide salts. It appears as a white or pale yellow powder in its raw form and is engineered for its remarkable ability to conduct heat extremely well while acting as an effective electrical insulator. This rare combination makes it a cornerstone in optoelectronics, … Read more

Aluminium stearate is a metallic soap – a salt formed from aluminum and stearic acid (a common fatty acid). It appears as a white, fine, fluffy powder. Unlike reactive aluminum salts (chloride, nitrate), aluminum stearate is mild, water‑repellent, and used primarily as a thickening agent, lubricant, and waterproofing additive in industrial and cosmetic formulations. 1. … Read more

Aluminium nitrate is a highly soluble, deliquescent crystalline solid used as an oxidizing agent and a precursor for high‑purity alumina. It exists primarily as the nonahydrate (Al(NO₃)₃·9H₂O). Due to its strong oxidizing properties, it must be stored away from all organic and flammable materials. 1. Basic Identification 2. Physical Properties Property Aluminium Nitrate (Nonahydrate) Melting … Read more

Aluminum phosphide is a highly toxic inorganic solid used globally as a fumigant and pesticide. It appears as dark grey or yellowish‑grey crystals. Its lethality comes not from the solid itself, but from its reaction with moisture to produce phosphine gas (PH₃). Handling, storage, and application are strictly regulated worldwide. 1. Basic Identification 2. Physical … Read more

Aluminum silicate represents a family of naturally occurring minerals – andalusite, kyanite, and sillimanite – all sharing the same chemical formula but differing in crystal structure due to formation under different pressures and temperatures. Industrially, it is valued for its extreme refractoriness (heat resistance) and is used in spark plugs, kiln linings, and catalyst supports. … Read more

Aluminum phosphate is a highly stable, insoluble inorganic compound with significant applications in medical pharmacology and industrial chemistry. It appears as a white, dense powder with a structure similar to quartz. Its stability and biological inertness make it valuable in antacid therapies, vaccine adjuvants, and high‑strength binders. 1. Basic Identification 2. Physical Properties Property Aluminum … Read more

Aluminum oxide, commonly called alumina, is the most abundant and industrially important aluminum compound. It occurs naturally as the mineral corundum (which forms rubies and sapphires when colored by impurities). Industrially, it is produced as a white powder used primarily for aluminum metal production, as a high‑hardness abrasive, and as a base for technical ceramics … Read more

Lithium aluminum hydride, commonly abbreviated as LAH, is a complex ionic salt (Li⁺ AlH₄⁻) and one of the most powerful reducing agents used in organic chemistry. It appears as a white to gray microcrystalline powder. Due to its extreme reactivity with water and air, LAH must be handled under strictly inert conditions to prevent fires … Read more

Aluminum tungstate is an inorganic mixed oxide with the formula Al₂(WO₄)₃. It appears as a dense white powder, is insoluble in water, and is valued almost exclusively in materials science research for a rare property: isotropic negative thermal expansion (NTE) – it shrinks uniformly in all directions when heated, opposite to most materials. 1. Basic … Read more

Aluminium molybdate is an inorganic mixed oxide used primarily as a catalyst precursor in hydrodesulfurization (HDS) – the industrial process that removes sulfur from crude oil fractions to produce clean diesel. It appears as a pale white to slightly yellow powder, is insoluble in water, and exhibits high thermal stability. Its value lies in its … Read more

Aluminium lactate is a mild, organic salt formed from metallic aluminium and lactic acid. It appears as a white, water‑soluble powder and is valued for its low skin irritation compared to traditional aluminium salts. Its primary applications are in sensitive‑teeth toothpastes, deodorants for hypersensitive skin, and professional mouthwashes. 1. Basic Identification 2. Physical Properties Property … Read more

Aluminium iodide is a highly reactive chemical compound comprising aluminium and iodine. Appearing as a white to pale yellow‑brown crystalline powder, it is characterized by its powerful electron‑accepting nature. Much like aluminium chloride and bromide, it is a strong Lewis acid. While its commercial use is vastly eclipsed by other halides, it holds a highly … Read more

Aluminum hydride, frequently referenced in the literature as “alane,” is an exotic, highly reactive, and intensely energetic solid polymer. Distinctly separating itself from the oxygen-heavy ceramics and chlorine-rich halides, it relies on directly bonding aluminium to raw hydrogen. Appearing as a white, easily degradable powder, its colossal energy density makes it a highly sought-after but … Read more

Aluminium hydroxide stands as one of the single most widely manufactured and biologically integrated aluminium compounds on the planet. Naturally abundant as the mineral gibbsite, it serves as the critical intermediate step in purifying alumina for metal production. Away from massive industrial smelters, it acts directly as the world’s most popular over-the-counter heartburn medicine, a … Read more

Aluminium fluoride is a stable, inorganic compound distinguished from other aluminium halides by its distinct ionic crystal structure and immense thermal stability. Appearing as a colorless to white crystalline solid, it does not fume in air nor behave as a potent Lewis acid like its chloride and bromide counterparts. Instead, its supreme utility lies in … Read more

Aluminum chlorohydrate, often abbreviated as ACH, is a water-soluble, polymeric aluminum species that sits comfortably between the violent reactivity of anhydrous aluminum chloride and the benign inertness of aluminum hydroxide. It appears as a white to off-white powder or a clear to pale yellow solution. Unlike its anhydrous halide cousins, ACH is deliberately designed to … Read more

Aluminium chloride, also known as aluminium trichloride, is a powerful Lewis acid and an essential industrial chemical. It appears as a white to pale yellow solid that fumes vigorously in moist air. Its primary application lies in its role as a master catalyst in organic chemistry, specifically for Friedel-Crafts alkylation and acylation. Due to its … Read more