Aluminium chloride

Aluminum chloride is an inorganic chemical compound with the molecular formula AlCl3. It is a white, hygroscopic solid that is highly soluble in water. It is commonly used as a Lewis acid and a catalyst in chemical reactions, as well as a dehydrating agent and a coagulant in water treatment processes. In industry, it is used in the production of aluminum metal and as a starting material for the synthesis of other aluminum compounds. It is also used in the oil industry as a catalyst in fluid catalytic cracking. In medicine, it is used as an antiperspirant, astringent and to treat hyperhidrosis.