Weblink 14.3 The structures of solid AlF₃ and AlCl₃

Aluminium atoms are shown in grey, fluorine in pale green, and chlorine in bright green. In AlF₃ each aluminium is surrounded by six fluorines in a distorted octahedron; these octahedra share corner fluorine atoms.

In AlCl₃ the aluminium atoms are sandwiched between two layers of chlorine atoms. This layered structure is taken as being indicative of greater covalency.

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