Aluminium acetate

Aluminium acetate or aluminium ethanoate, sometimes abbreviated AlAc in geochemistry, can refer to a number of different salts of aluminium with acetic acid. In the solid state, three salts exist under this name: basic aluminium monoacetate, ₂AlCH₃CO₂, basic aluminium diacetate, HOAl₂, and neutral aluminium triacetate, Al_3. In aqueous solution, aluminium triacetate hydrolyses to form a mixture of the other two, and all solutions of all three can be referred to as "aluminium acetate" as the species formed coexist and inter-convert in chemical equilibrium.

Stoichiometry

Aluminium monoacetate, also known as dibasic aluminium acetate, forms from Al₃ and dilute aqueous acetic acid. More concentrated acid leads to the di- and triacetate.

Aluminium diacetate, also known as basic aluminium acetate, is prepared from aqueous aluminium acetate solution resulting in a white powder. This basic salt forms from the hydrolysis of the triacetate in water.

Aluminium triacetate is a chemical compound that is prepared by heating aluminium chloride or Al powder with a mixture of acetic acid and acetic anhydride. It is referred as the normal salt and is only made in the absence of water at a relatively high temperature like 180 °C.