THE REACTION ALUMINIUM OXIDE–CARBON–CHLORINE

Abstract

The reaction aluminium oxide–carbon–chlorine has been investigated and found to produce aluminium chloride, oxygen and carbon dioxide. This occurred when a mixture of aluminium oxide and carbon was heated either in a stream of chlorine or in a static atmosphere of chlorine. No carbon monoxide was obtained when a stream of chlorine was used, but small amounts were formed in a static atmosphere of chlorine. The temperature at which reaction started, as shown by the formation of a sublimate of aluminium chloride in the reaction tube, decreased as the proportion of carbon to aluminium oxide increased. In a number of experiments, less carbon was consumed than should have been for the amount of aluminium oxide that reacted, if it be assumed that carbon dioxide, rather than oxygen, was a primary product. From the results obtained, the writers believe that oxygen is a primary product of the reaction, while carbon dioxide is a secondary product, the carbon acting primarily as a catalyst.In experiments with tungstic oxide, also, oxygen was produced, but, contrary to the findings of other investigators, carbon dioxide was also formed.