Brooke Andrews September 22nd Period 2

Aluminum Carbonate Aluminum carbonate is made up of aluminum, carbon, and oxygen. The chemical formula is (Al2(CO3)3. It is formed when there is a chemical reaction between Aluminum and a covalent bond between Carbon and Oxygen. The molecular formula is C3Al2O9. It is a naturally occurring substance and usually comes in the form of a powder. When it is decomposed, it turns into carbon dioxide and aluminum hydroxide. Aluminum carbonate is a water insoluble aluminum source. It is available in many volumes: high purity, submicron, and nanopowder. Aluminum carbonate can easily be converted into other aluminum compounds by heating or calcination. Carbonate compounds also give off carbon dioxide when treated with dilute acids. (3) There are many different uses of Aluminum carbonate. It can be used to treat symptoms of increased stomach acid such as: heartburn, acid reflux, acid indigestion, and stomach ulcers. It is used to control, manage, and treat high levels of phosphate in the body. Aluminum Carbonate is also used to treat GERD or Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease. GERD is a condition in which the liquid acid in your stomach regurgitates back up into your esophagus. (1) Aluminum Carbonate is used medically as an antacid, but if too much is ingested, it can increase the amount of acid the stomach produces. Also, if too much is taken at once, it can cause the

formation of phosphate urinary stones. Therefore, doctors usually recommend a low phosphate diet while taking an Aluminum Carbonate medication. (2) The element Aluminum is the third most common element on the Earth. It is a metal that is very chemically reactive. Aluminum reacts strongly when exposed to Oxygen. (4) It has an oxidation number of +3, which is the charge of the ion created when the element reacts in a chemical reaction. It also has 3 valence electrons, or the number of electrons in the outermost energy level. Carbon is a nonmetal and is the sixth most abundant element in the universe. It has an oxidation number of +4/-4, depending on what it is bonding with, and 4 valence electrons. Oxygen is also a nonmetal and makes up 21 percent of the Earths atmosphere. It has an oxidation number of -2 and has 6 valence electrons. (5) Many things must occur before Aluminum Carbonate can form. The Oxygen and Carbon atoms form a covalent bond, which is when atoms share valence electrons to meet the octet rule. The octet rule states that an atom must have 8 electrons in the outer shell to become completely stable. Generally, a covalent bond occurs between two nonmetals. One Carbon atom bonds with three Oxygen atoms to form the covalent Carbonate bond. The Aluminum atom becomes attracted to the covalent Carbonate compound because Aluminum is positively charged and the Carbonate compound is negatively charged. When they bond together, it becomes a polyatomic ion. A polyatomic ion is a charged particle that has two or more atoms held together by covalent bonds. The electrons are then transferred from the metal to the nonmetal, which in this case, from Aluminum to the Carbonate compound. (6)

Aluminum carbonate is a very useful compound and consists of polyatomic ions. As long as too much isnt ingested, it is a very safe compound for humans to consume for various medical conditions.