What is the primary oxidation state of aluminum in aluminum chloride (AlCl3)?

What is the primary oxidation state of aluminum in aluminum chloride (AlCl3)?

Step 1: Understand what oxidation state means. It is the charge of an atom in a compound.
Step 2: Identify the elements in aluminum chloride, which are aluminum (Al) and chlorine (Cl).
Step 3: Know that chlorine typically has an oxidation state of -1 in compounds.
Step 4: In aluminum chloride (AlCl3), there are three chlorine atoms. So, the total oxidation state contributed by chlorine is 3 * (-1) = -3.
Step 5: To balance the total charge in the compound, aluminum must have an oxidation state that makes the overall charge zero.
Step 6: Set up the equation: oxidation state of Al + total oxidation state of Cl = 0. This means: oxidation state of Al + (-3) = 0.
Step 7: Solve for the oxidation state of Al: oxidation state of Al = +3.

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