Aluminum iodide and mercury (II) chloride react when mixed. The reaction is called a double replacement reaction and produces aqueous aluminum chloride and a mercury iodide precipitate. The reaction is as follows:
2AlI3 (aq) + 3HgCl2 (aq) `->` 2AlCl3 (aq) + 3HgI2 (s)
In double replacement reactions, the cations within each reactant molecule switch anion partners with each other. In chemistry, cations are positively charged ions and are given first in chemical formulas and anions are negatively charged ions. In this example, Al3+ and Hg2+ are the cations and I- and Cl- are the anions. Aluminum iodide consists of 1 aluminum and 3 iodine ions to balance the 3+ charge on the aluminum. Mercury chloride consists of 1 mercury and 2 chloride ions to balance the 2+ charge on the mercury.
The products are also electrically neutral. Aluminum chloride remains dissolved in solution and consists of 1 aluminum and 3 chlorides to balance the 3+ charge on the aluminum. Mercury chloride is a solid that precipitates out of solution and consists of 1 mercury and 2 iodide ions to balance the 2+ charge on the mercury.
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