MadSci Network: Chemistry
Query:

Re: What does a aluminumacitracide molocule look like?

Date: Fri Apr 17 11:33:51 1998
Posted By: Myron Cagan, Staff Engineer, process development, micro devices
Area of science: Chemistry
ID: 892232833.Ch
Message:

I cannot find information on a compound called 'aluminumacitracide'.
The questioner also mentions a compound made from aluminum & citric
acid.  I would call such a compound aluminum citrate.  I cannot find any
mention of aluminum citrate in tthe references available to me.  

It aluminum citrate exists,  I would GUESS that its formula would be 
Al(+3) [C(OH)(CH2-COO)2(COO)](-3).  The structure is, as far as I can
'sketch' it on this computer:
 
   [       /(CH2-COO(-))2   ]
   [HOC                           ]  Al(+3)
   [        \(COO(-))           ]

The Al could be bound to the negatively charged oxygens of the
carboxylate groups, kind of like a fly being held in a spiders legs.
The student could check this out by building a molecular model.  A high
school chemistry teacher should have such a model set.  However, this is
all only a GUESS.

The student has implied that they have tried to use computerized
chemical data bases.  I would suggest that the high school student try
again with enlisting their chemistry teacher to help them use chemical
structure & compound searches available through university chemistry
libraries.  Or, perhaps a friendly faculty or librarian in a university
chemistry department could help.



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