What do copper(II) chloride and aluminum form when they are combined?

When combined, copper(II) chloride and aluminum form copper metal and aluminum chloride. The balanced equation for the reaction is 3CuCl2 + 2Al => 2AlCl3 + 3Cu, where Cu symbolizes copper, Cl symbolizes chlorine and Al symbolizes aluminum.

During the reaction between copper(II) chloride and aluminum, the aluminum dissolves to create a solution with aluminum ions with a +3 charge and copper metal. The aluminum gains this charge by losing electrons during the reaction. This type of reaction is known as an oxidation-reduction reaction, or a redox reaction. It is also an exothermic reaction, meaning that heat is released during the process.