Iron(III) chloride
2007 Schools Wikipedia Selection. Related subjects: Chemical compounds
Iron(III) chloride | |
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General | |
Systematic name | Iron(III) chloride |
Other names | ferric chloride iron trichloride molysite mineral form Flores martis |
Molecular formula | FeCl3 |
Molar mass | 162.21 g mol−1 hexahydrate: 270.30 g mol−1 |
Appearance | green-black by reflected light, purple-red by transmitted light hexahydrate: yellow solid aq. solutions: brown |
CAS number | [7705-08-0] hexahydrate: [10025-77-1] |
Properties | |
Density and phase | 2.80 g cm−3 40% solution: 1.4 g ml−1 |
Solubility in water | 92 g/100 ml (20 °C) |
In other solvents: acetone Methanol Ethanol Diethyl ether |
63 g/100 ml (18 °C) highly soluble 83 g/100 ml highly soluble |
Melting point | 306°C (579 K) |
Boiling point | 315°C (588 K), partial decomposition to FeCl2+Cl2 |
Acidity (pKa) | ? |
Viscosity | 40% solution: 12 c P |
Structure | |
Molecular shape | ? |
Coordination geometry | octahedral |
Crystal structure | hexagonal |
Dipole moment | ? D |
Hazards | |
MSDS | External MSDS |
Main hazards | Very corrosive |
NFPA 704 | |
R/S statement | R: 22, 34 S: 26,28 |
RTECS number | LJ9100000 |
Supplementary data page | |
Structure & properties | n, εr, etc. |
Thermodynamic data | Phase behaviour Solid, liquid, gas |
Spectral data | UV, IR, NMR, MS |
Related compounds | |
Other anions | Iron(III) fluoride Iron(III) bromide |
Other cations | Iron(II) chloride |
Related metals | Manganese(II) chloride Cobalt(II) chloride Ruthenium(III) chloride |
Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25°C, 100 kPa) Infobox disclaimer and references |
Iron(III) chloride, generically called ferric chloride, is the chemical compound with the formula FeCl3. The crystals appear a dark green colour by reflected light, but by transmitted light they appear purple-red as its colour depends upon the viewing angle. It is deliquescent, fuming in moist air due to the evolution of HCl, which hydrates, giving a mist. When dissolved in water, FeCl3 undergoes hydrolysis and gives off a great deal of heat as it is an exothermic reaction. The resulting brown, acidic solution, which is corrosive, is used as a coagulant in treating sewage and drinking water and as an etchant for copper-based metals (such as those found in printed circuit boards) and stainless steel.
Anhydrous iron(III) chloride is a fairly strong Lewis acid, and it is used as a catalyst in organic synthesis. The brownish-yellow hexahydrate is a common commercial form of ferric chloride, a yellowish species described by the formula [FeCl2(H2O)4]Cl.2H2O (compare chromium(III) chloride).
Structure
FeCl3 adopts the BI3 structure, which features octahedral Fe(III) centres and three-coordinate chloride ligands. FeCl3 has a relatively low melting point, and boils at around 315 °C. The vapour consists of the dimer Fe2Cl6 (compare aluminium chloride) that is increasingly dissociated into the monomer at higher temperature, in competition with the reversible decomposition to give FeCl2 and Cl2.
Chemical properties
Iron(III) chloride is a moderately strong Lewis acid which forms adducts with Lewis bases such as triphenylphosphine oxide, e.g. FeCl3(OPPh3)2 where Ph = phenyl. FeCl3 reacts with chloride salts to give the yellow tetrahedral FeCl4− ion. Solutions of FeCl4− in hydrochloric acid may be extracted into diethyl ether.
When heated with iron(III) oxide at 350 °C, FeCl3 gives the oxychloride FeOCl. In the presence of base, iron(III) chloride may undergo replacement of chloride, for example to produce an alkoxide:
Carboxylate salts such as oxalate, citrate or tartrate react easily with aqueous FeCl3 to form stable complexes such as [Fe(C2O4)3]3−.
Iron(III) chloride is also a mild oxidising agent, capable (for example) of oxidising copper(I) chloride to copper(II) chloride. Reducing agents such as hydrazine convert FeCl3 to complexes of iron(II).
Preparation and production
Anhydrous iron(III) chloride may be prepared by union of the elements:
The solution of iron(III) chloride is produced on industrial scale via two methods, from iron and from ore, in a closed-loop process.
- Dissolving pure iron in iron(III) chloride solution:
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- Fe(s) + 2FeCl3(aq) → 3FeCl2(aq)
- Dissolving iron ore in hydrochloric acid:
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- Fe3O4(s) + 8HCl(aq) → FeCl2(aq) + 2FeCl3(aq) + 4H2O
- Upgrading the iron(II) chloride with chlorine:
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- FeCl2(aq) + Cl2(g) → FeCl3(aq)
Alternatively, ferrous chloride can be oxidized with sulfur dioxide:
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- 32FeCl2 + 8SO2 + 32HCl → 32 FeCl3 + S8 + 16H2O
Hydrated FeCl3(H2O)n can be converted to the anhydrous salt by heating with thionyl chloride. The hydrate cannot be converted to FeCl3 by heat, instead HCl is evolved and FeOCl forms
Uses
Iron(III) chloride is probably most widely used for etching copper in the production of printed circuit boards. This occurs by the redox reaction
Iron(III) chloride is also used as a catalyst for the reaction of ethylene with chlorine, forming ethylene dichloride ( 1,2-Dichloroethane), an important commodity chemical, which is mainly used for the industrial production of vinyl chloride, the monomer for making PVC.
In another industrial application, ferric chloride is an alternative to iron(III) sulfate in water treatment, where FeCl3 is treated with hydroxide ion to form a floc of "iron(III) hydroxide" (more correctly formulated as FeO(OH)) that can remove suspended materials.
In the laboratory iron(III) chloride is commonly employed as a Lewis acid for catalysing reactions such as chlorination of aromatic compounds and Friedel-Crafts reaction of aromatics. It is less powerful than aluminium chloride, but in some cases this mildness leads to higher yields, for example in the alkylation of benzene:
The "ferric chloride test" is a traditional colorimetric test for phenols which uses a 1% iron(III) chloride solution that has been neutralised with sodium hydroxide until a slight precipitate of FeO(OH) is formed. The mixture is filtered before use. The organic substance is dissolved in water, methanol or ethanol, then the neutralised FeCl3 solution is added—a transient or permanent coloration (usually purple, green or blue) indicates the presence of a phenol or enol.
FeCl3 is sometimes used by American coin collectors to identify the dates of Buffalo nickels that are so badly worn that the date is no longer visible.
FeCl3 is also commonly used by knife craftsmen and swordsmiths to stain blades, as to give a contrasting effect to the metal, and also to view metal layering or imperfections.
Precautions
Iron(III) chloride is toxic, highly corrosive and acidic. The anhydrous material is a powerful dehydrating agent.