2 Al (s) + 3 HgCl2 (aq) 3 Hg (l) + 2 AlCl3 (aq)

This is an oxidation-reduction (redox) reaction:

2 Al0 - 6 e- 2 AlIII (oxidation)

3 HgII + 6 e- 3 Hg0 (reduction)

Al is a reducing agent, HgCl2 is an oxidizing agent.

Reactants:

  • Al
    • Names: Aluminum source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-07source: NIOSH NPG, accessed: 2019-09-02, Aluminium powder source: ICSC, accessed: 2019-09-04, Al source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-07
    • Appearance: Silvery-white-to-grey powder source: ICSC, accessed: 2019-09-04; Silvery-white, malleable, ductile, odorless metal. source: NIOSH NPG, accessed: 2019-09-02
  • HgCl2Mercury(II) chloride source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-02, Mercury dichloride source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-02source: ICSC, accessed: 2019-09-04
    • Other names: Mercuric chloride source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-02source: ICSC, accessed: 2019-09-04, Corrosive sublimate source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-02, ClHgCl source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-02
    • Appearance: Colorless or white solid source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27; White crystals or powder source: ICSC, accessed: 2019-09-04

Products:

  • Hg
    • Names: Mercury source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-07source: ICSC, accessed: 2019-09-04, Hg source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-07, Quicksilver source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-07source: ICSC, accessed: 2019-09-04
    • Appearance: Odourless heavy mobile silvery liquid metal source: ICSC, accessed: 2019-09-04
  • AlCl3Aluminium chloride source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-02
    • Other names: Aluminium(III) chloride source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27source: ICSC, accessed: 2019-09-04, Aluminum trichloride source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-02, Aluminum chloride source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-02
    • Appearance: White or pale yellow solid | hygroscopic source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27; Colourless-to-white powder. turns grey-to-yellow on exposure to moisture source: ICSC, accessed: 2019-09-04