[Chemistry Class Notes] on Aluminium Phosphate Pdf for Exam

Aluminium Phosphate, or Aluminium (III) Phosphate, is an inorganic salt that is found in several minerals and is often used as a catalyst. It is also used in the pharmaceutical industry for manufacturing chemotherapeutic drugs. It occurs naturally in the form of the mineral berlinite. It is prepared chemically when soluble Aluminium salts are exposed to alkaline conditions. It is represented as AlPO4, which consists of hydrated Aluminium Orthophosphate. The Aluminium Phosphate solutions form polymeric aggregates wherein equilibrium is reached very slowly. It forms soluble Aluminium salts and Phosphoric acid by slowly reacting with Gastric acid. 

However, it absorbs the bile acids weaker than Aluminium Hydroxide. Here, we will learn what is Aluminium Phosphate, what is the formula for Aluminium Phosphate, what is Aluminium Phosphate used for, and the properties of Aluminium Phosphate.

Aluminium Phosphate Structure- AlPO4

Aluminium Phosphate generally occurs as an anhydrous salt. However, its dihydrate and pentahydrate structures occur as well, which are represented as AlPO4.2H2O and AlPO4.5H2O.

The Aluminium Phosphate compound is formed by the Phosphate anion and Aluminium cation. Its anhydrous salt structure is much similar to several other minerals like quartz and has a trigonal crystal structure. However, its dihydrate form has a structure similar to NaCl in which 6 cations are coordinated to 6 anions. The structure of Aluminium Phosphate AlPO4 is shown below. This representation is commonly used for organic molecules.

[]

Chemical Formula of Aluminium Phosphate

Let us take a look at what is the chemical formula for aluminium phosphate.

Aluminium Phosphate is also called Aluminium Monophosphate or Mono-Aluminium Phosphate. It is formed by the Phosphate anion PO43-, and the Aluminium cation Al3+. Hence, the chemical or molecular formula of Aluminium Phosphate is AlPO4.

It occurs as a white crystalline powder. However, it is a colourless liquid in its aqueous form. It is insoluble in water and occurs in the form of a mineral berlinite. Aluminium phosphate is found in minerals like variscite and meta-variscite in its dihydrate form. Since it has piezoelectric properties, it is widely used in the electronic and electrical industries.

Now that you know about what is Aluminum Phosphate and what is the chemical formula for Aluminum Phosphate, let us take a look at some of its properties.

Physical Properties of Aluminium Phosphate AlPO4 

Let us now discuss the physical properties of Aluminium Phosphate AlPO4 .

Chemical Properties of Aluminium Phosphate AlPO4

Now let us go through the chemical properties of Aluminium Phosphate AlPO4.

1. Aluminium Phosphate reacts with Hydrochloric Acid to form Aluminium Trichloride and Phosphoric acid. The reaction is as follows.

AlPO4 + 3HCl → AlCL3 + H3PO4

2. Aluminium Phosphate reacts with Magnesium Chloride to form Magnesium Phosphate and Aluminium Trichloride. The reaction is given as follows.

2AlPO4 + 3MgCl2 → Mg3(Po4)2 + 2AlCl3