Talk:Aluminium carbonate

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Usually for the compound pages, there is a section on synthesis. I have done my research and it seems as though single-replacement reactions involving aluminum metal and Potassium, Sodium, and Lithium Carbonates and Bicarbonates in solution can result in Al2(CO3)3 production. Shall a new section be made on this? --Tomboy626357 (talk) 03:06, 18 February 2010 (UTC)

Does this compound exist?
The article says it is unstable- later it implies unreferenced that it is used in fire extinguishers. However many text books say it does not exist Axiosaurus (talk) 19:18, 14 May 2014 (UTC)

I have removed the reference to strontiodresserite which is a real mineral - a complex basic salt.

The simple reaction shown involving sodium carbonate and aluminium salt is quoted in some text books. It seems unlikely. Sodium carbonate is a basic salt- aluminium salts are amphoteric- the reaction scheme would be complex, pH dependant and in practise probably form either a solution containing tetrahydroxoaluminate ( Al(OH)4)-) or precipitate aluminum hydroxide Al(OH)3. I cannot find a paper describing this reaction.

The instability of solid Al2(CO3)3 is plausible- solid carbonates all have a tendency to decompose to the metal and carbon dioxide at high temperature, however I can find no reference to the production of solid alumium carbonate yet alone a reference to a study on its thermal decomposition. The only references are supposition or vague pharmaceutical and medical references. Axiosaurus (talk) 08:43, 17 May 2014 (UTC)
 * Added a reference to the non existence of the simple carbonate. There are probably basic carbonates of aluminium, although these are often quoted the characterisation of them is scant. The picture is probaly of one of these. The same problem of hydrolysis prevents iron(III) carbonate being isolated, there is also little reliable evidence for scandium carbonate. There are however lanthanide carbonates- hydrated salts where high coordination of the Ln3+ ion is possible due to its greater size.Axiosaurus (talk) 13:35, 24 May 2014 (UTC)