Aluminium nitrate

Aluminium nitrate is an inorganic salt composed of aluminium cations and nitrate anions, with the formula Al(NO₃)₃. Its common crystalline form is a hydrated, deliquescent solid.

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Aluminium: Aluminium is a lightweight metallic element with atomic number 13 that commonly forms Al³⁺ ions. Its trivalent cation determines the salt’s three-nitrate formula.
Deliquescence: Deliquescence is the absorption of atmospheric water vapor until a solid dissolves in the absorbed water. Aluminium nitrate hydrate can absorb moisture from air and become wet or liquefy.
Chemical vapor deposition: Chemical vapor deposition forms a solid film through chemical reactions of vapor-phase precursors on a surface. Aluminium nitrate can serve as an aluminium precursor in some deposition routes.
Aluminium chloride: Aluminium chloride is an aluminium salt with chloride anions, commonly written AlCl₃ in its anhydrous form. Its chloride ligand and strong Lewis acidity contrast with nitrate’s oxidizing anion.
Nitrate: Nitrate is the polyatomic ion NO₃⁻, with nitrogen bonded to three oxygen atoms. Three monovalent nitrate ions balance each aluminium ion.
Hydrolysis: Hydrolysis is a reaction in which water participates in breaking or transforming chemical bonds. Hydrated Al³⁺ acidifies aqueous solutions by transferring protons to water.
Sol-gel process: The sol-gel process converts molecular precursors into a colloidal sol and then a solid oxide network. Aluminium nitrate solutions can supply aluminium for oxide gels and ceramic materials.
Aluminium sulfate: Aluminium sulfate is a water-soluble aluminium salt with sulfate anions, commonly written Al₂(SO₄)₃. It is a more familiar industrial aluminium salt used in water treatment and papermaking.
Ionic compound: An ionic compound consists of positively and negatively charged ions held together by electrostatic attraction. Aluminium nitrate is classified by the attraction between its oppositely charged ions.
Lewis acid: A Lewis acid is a chemical species that accepts an electron pair. Aluminium ions accept electron pairs from water molecules in solution.