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What are the main uses of Aluminium Fluoride?
Aluminium fluoride (Aluminium Fluoride) has a wide range of uses and is used in all fields of industry.
First, in the aluminum smelting industry, this is a crucial flux. The smelting of aluminum is mostly carried out by the cryolite-alumina molten salt electrolysis method. However, the melting point of alumina is very high, and the energy consumption is huge to make it melt and electrolyze. Aluminium fluoride can reduce the melting point of alumina, reduce the energy consumption of the electrolysis process, and improve the conductivity and fluidity of the electrolyte, making the electrolysis reaction easier to carry out, and improve the production efficiency and quality of aluminum.
Second, in the ceramic industry, it can be used as an additive for glazes. Adding aluminum fluoride can improve the melting properties and fluidity of the glaze, make the glaze smoother and brighter, and can enhance the hardness and wear resistance of the glaze layer, making ceramic products more beautiful and durable.
Third, in the glass industry, it is also used. It can adjust the thermal expansion coefficient of the glass, enhance the chemical stability and mechanical strength of the glass. In some optical glasses, the addition of aluminum fluoride can optimize its optical properties to meet special optical needs.
Fourth, in the field of organic synthesis, aluminum fluoride can sometimes be used as a catalyst. Its unique chemical properties can promote the progress of certain organic reactions, accelerate the reaction rate, improve the product yield, and help to achieve efficient organic synthesis.
What are the Physical Properties of Aluminium Fluoride?
Aluminum fluoride is a type of compound. Its physical properties are quite specific, and I will tell you in detail.
First of all, its appearance is mostly white powder, and the texture is delicate, like frost and snow. It looks pure and simple. Under the light, it has a slight luster, just like a shimmer, reflecting a little bit of crystal.
As for its melting point, it is quite high. It needs a considerable high temperature to make it from solid to liquid. This characteristic comes from the strong force between the atoms inside it, the structure is stable, and the non-strong force cannot break its solid state. The boiling point is also very considerable, and these two characteristics make it stable at ordinary temperatures, and it is not easy to evaporate.
Furthermore, the density of aluminum fluoride is also considerable. Compared with many common substances, its density is higher, and when held in the hand, it feels heavy, as if it contains endless weight.
Its solubility is also an important physical property. In water, its solubility is limited, only a little can be dissolved. Due to the weak interaction between water molecules and aluminum fluoride molecules, it is difficult to fully disperse them in water, so most of them are suspended or precipitated in solid particles at the bottom of the water.
When it comes to hardness, aluminum fluoride has a certain hardness, which cannot be easily deformed. When scratched with a hard object, only shallow traces are left, which shows the density and toughness of its structure.
In addition, the thermal and electrical conductivity of aluminum fluoride are not very outstanding. Heat transfer is slow, and it is difficult for current to flow in it, because its internal structure is not conducive to heat and electricity conduction.
Overall, aluminum fluoride has unique physical properties and plays an important role in many fields of industry and scientific research because of these characteristics.
Chemical Properties of Aluminium Fluoride
The chemical properties of aluminum and fluoride can be studied. Aluminum, a light metal, is active and often shows positive trivalent. In fluoride, fluorine is often negative monovalent, and the two combine to form aluminum fluoride, the most common of which is aluminum fluoride ($AlF_ {3} $).
Aluminum fluoride, a white crystalline powder, is also difficult to dissolve in water, because of its high lattice energy. Its melting point is very high, about 1291 ° C, and its boiling point is about 1272 ° C. This is due to the strong force of ionic bonds. To break its lattice and cause changes in the state of matter requires a lot of energy.
In terms of chemical activity, although aluminum fluoride is insoluble in water, it can also react in strongly acidic or strongly alkaline environments. In case of strong acids, such as hydrofluoric acid ($HF $), fluoroaluminate can be formed ($H_ {3} AlF_ {6} $), because $AlF_ {3} $has the ability to accept $F ^ {-} $to form a coordination compound. The coordination reaction is: $AlF_ {3} + 3HF\ rightarrow H_ {3} AlF_ {6} $.
Under alkaline conditions, aluminum fluoride can react with hydroxide ions to form aluminum hydroxide precipitation. If the alkali content is sufficient, aluminum hydroxide can be further dissolved to form metaaluminate. The reaction is as follows: $AlF_ {3} + 3OH ^ {-}\ rightarrow Al (OH) _ {3}\ downarrow + 3 F ^{-}$，$ Al (OH) _ {3} + OH ^ {-}\ rightarrow AlO_ {2} ^ {-} + 2H_ {2} O $.
Aluminum fluoride is widely used in the metallurgical industry and is often used as a flux for aluminum smelting. Because it can reduce the melting point of aluminum oxide, reduce the energy consumption of the aluminum smelting process, and does not chemically react with the aluminum liquid, it will not pollute the aluminum product. In the field of organic synthesis, aluminum fluoride is sometimes used as a catalyst to catalyze the progress of certain organic reactions, because it can form a specific coordination structure with the reactants, reducing the activation energy of the reaction and promoting the reaction speed.
What is the Production Method of Aluminium Fluoride?
The method of making aluminum fluoride includes electrolysis and chemical synthesis.
First, the electrolysis method. This is to co-melt aluminum oxide and cryolite in the electrolytic cell, and pass an electric current. At the anode, oxygen ions lose electrons and escape into oxygen; at the cathode, aluminum ions gain electrons and precipitate into aluminum elemental matter. In this process, aluminum fluoride is also formed. The reaction formula is roughly: 2Al O 🥰 + 3C + 12Na 🥰 AlF $\ stackrel {energized} {=} $4Al + 3CO 🥰 ↑ + 12Na 🥰 AlF. The cryolite can reduce the melting point of aluminum oxide and help the electrolysis to proceed smoothly. And the purity of aluminum fluoride obtained by the electrolysis method is quite high, but a lot of electricity is required, and the cost is also huge.
Let's talk about the chemical synthesis method. First, aluminum hydroxide reacts with hydrofluoric acid. When aluminum hydroxide encounters hydrofluoric acid, the two combine to produce aluminum fluoride and water. The equation is: Al (OH) < 3HF = AlF < 3H < O >. This reaction requires controlling the reaction conditions, such as temperature and concentration, to maintain the purity and yield of the product. Second, react with aluminum salt and fluoride solution. If aluminum sulfate is mixed with sodium fluoride solution, a metathesis reaction occurs, resulting in aluminum fluoride precipitation and sodium sulfate solution. Its formula is: Al (SO) < 6NaF = 2AlF < 3Na < SO >. Compared with electrolysis, this method consumes slightly less energy, but the product or contains impurities, which need to be purified later.
What are the precautions for Aluminium Fluoride during use?
First of all, the two are strong, so the operation is necessary to prevent accidents. Keep it in a good place to avoid harmful accumulation. If it is in a dense room, the poison will be scattered, and people will be afraid.
Second, fluoride is often corrosive, and the skin and mucous membranes are all affected by it. Therefore, the operation of the equipment, such as gloves, eyes, and gas masks, must not be ignored. If it is not careful, quickly wash it with a lot of water, and the serious one will seek treatment.
In addition, the reverse degree and proportion are also important. If the temperature is high, it will be reversed and controlled, or it will cause danger. If the proportion is lost, it will be better to obtain good results. Therefore, it is appropriate to measure accurately, control the temperature, and operate according to the established method in order to benefit.
Furthermore, use the high temperature to properly dispose of the wrong things. If you keep fluoride, you should not deliberately dispose of it to prevent pollution of the environment. According to the relevant information, it should be managed properly to ensure the safety of the environment.
If you use fluoride, you should be careful and prevent it from happening.
