The key difference between aluminium chlorohydrate and aluminium zirconium is that aluminium chlorohydrate is comparatively less effective as an antiperspirant, whereas aluminium zirconium is more effective as an antiperspirant.
Both aluminium chlorohydrate and aluminium zirconium are important as antiperspirants. An antiperspirant or a deodorant is a substance that we can apply on the body to prevent body odour that comes due to the bacterial breakdown of perspiration in the armpit, groin, and feet.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Aluminium Chlorohydrate
3. What is Aluminium Zirconium
4. Side by Side Comparison – Aluminium Chlorohydrate vs Aluminium Zirconium in Tabular Form
5. Summary
What is Aluminum Chlorohydrate?
Aluminium chlorohydrate is an inorganic compound containing aluminium, chlorine, hydrogen and oxygen atoms. It is a type of aluminium salt having the general chemical formula AlnCl(3n-m)(OH)m. This substance is mainly important as an antiperspirant and as a coagulant in water purification processes.
Figure 01: Aluminium Chlorohydrate
Aluminium chlorohydrate is an inorganic polymer material, so it is difficult to structurally characterize it. This is why more sophisticated techniques such as gel permeation chromatography, X-ray crystallography, Al-NMR are used for the characterization of this substance.
When considering the synthesis of aluminium chlorohydrate, it is commercially manufactured via the reaction between aluminium and hydrochloric acid. There are a number of aluminium-containing raw materials that can be used in this synthesis process. For example, aluminium metal, alumina trihydrate, aluminium chloride, aluminium sulfate are some important sources used in the production of aluminium chlorohydrate.
What is Aluminium Zirconium?
Aluminium zirconium is an inorganic compound having aluminium, zirconium, oxygen, hydrogen and chlorine atoms. It is also named as aluminium zirconium tetrachlorohydrex gly. This substance is important as an antiperspirant in different deodorant products. This compound is able to obstruct pores in the skin and to prevent sweat from leaving the body. The anhydrous form of aluminium zirconium can absorb moisture as well. Generally, aluminium zirconium contains a mixture of monomeric and polymeric Zr4+ and Al3+ ions complexed with hydroxide, chlorine and glycine components.
Anhydrous aluminium zirconium functions by diffusing into the sweat gland where it forms a colloidal plug that can limit the flow of sweat on to the skin. Gradually, this colloidal plug breaks down, and normal sweating resumes after some time. However, when this compound is mixed with sweat, it tends to form a yellowish tint on clothing. This tint can be easily removed when vinegar or a mild bleach is applied to it.
What is the Difference Between Aluminium Chlorohydrate and Aluminium Zirconium?
Aluminium chlorohydrate is an inorganic compound containing aluminium, chlorine, hydrogen and oxygen atoms while aluminium zirconium is an inorganic compound having aluminium, zirconium, oxygen, hydrogen and chlorine atoms. Both aluminium chlorohydrate and aluminium zirconium are important as antiperspirants. The key difference between aluminium chlorohydrate and aluminium zirconium is that aluminium chlorohydrate is comparatively less effective as an antiperspirant, whereas aluminium zirconium is more effective as an antiperspirant.
Moreover, aluminium chlorohydrate is produced via the reaction between aluminium and hydrochloric acid while aluminium zirconium is produced by combining aluminum and zirconia under controlled conditions.
The following table summarizes the difference between aluminium chlorohydrate and aluminium zirconium.
Summary – Aluminium Chlorohydrate vs Aluminium Zirconium
In brief, both aluminium chlorohydrate and aluminium zirconium are important as antiperspirants. However, the key difference between aluminium chlorohydrate and aluminium zirconium is that aluminium chlorohydrate is comparatively less effective as an antiperspirant than aluminium zirconium.
Reference:
1. “Aluminium Chlorohydrate.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 24 June 2020, Available here.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Aluminium chloride by Danny S. – 001” Von Danny S. – Eigenes Werk (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia