Aluminum Chloride Ionic Or Covalent

Aluminum chloride is an ionic compound. It consists of positively charged aluminum ions (Al3+) and negatively charged chloride ions (Cl-), which are held together by electrostatic attraction. The aluminum ion has a relatively small size and a high charge density, which means that it can attract the negatively charged chloride ions strongly. This results in the formation of a crystal lattice structure in which the aluminum and chloride ions are arranged in a regular pattern.

In contrast, covalent compounds are formed when two or more atoms share electrons in order to achieve a stable electron configuration. In such compounds, the atoms are held together by the sharing of electrons rather than by electrostatic forces.

Therefore, aluminum chloride is considered an ionic compound because it is formed by the transfer of electrons between aluminum and chloride ions, resulting in the formation of an electrostatic bond.