Summary: A moisture-controlled experiment mixed zinc chloride and aluminum powder, heated to melt, producing white smoke and a zinc-containing solid. The first run yielded about 9 g of product, well below the theoretical ~40 g. A second run in a larger flask improved the yield to about 14 g. The process is low-yield but can provide small quantities of anhydrous aluminum chloride; ventilation and careful handling are essential. Aluminum chloride reacts violently with water, producing heat and large amounts of HCl, making it useful for reactions such as Friedel–Crafts but requiring tight storage and handling.
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