One of the purest and most concentrated forms of iron available on the market! Ferric Chloride...

Ferric chloride is the inorganic compound with the formula FeCl3. Also called Iron(III) chloride.  It is a common compound of iron in the +3-oxidation state. The anhydrous form is a crystalline solid. The colour varies on the viewing angle; crystals that reflect light seem dark green, while those that transmit light appear purple-red. It is highly soluble in methanol and diethyl ether. It is not flammable. It is corrosive to aluminium and most metals when wet.

Ferric Chloride is available in majorly three different forms. Anhydrous, Hexahydrate & Aqueous solution. Hexahydrate form is appearing as Brownish-yellow solid in the form of lumps. Its aqueous solution looks brown in color.

Iron(III) chloride is hazardous, very corrosive, and acidic. The anhydrous substance has a potent dehydrating effect.

Ferric chloride consumption can cause major illness and fatality, while instances of human poisoning are uncommon. Misdiagnosis or accident ingestion might result from improper labelling and storage. With people who have been poisoned severely, early diagnosis is crucial.

 

Manufacturing process for different form is as below, 

-        Anhydrous ferric chloride can be prepared by reaction of iron and chlorine.

2Fe_(s) + 3Cl_2(g) → 2FeCl_3(s)

-        Aqueous ferric chloride can be prepared by following three methods –

By dissolving iron ore in HCl

Fe₃O_4(s) + 8HCl_(aq) → FeCl_2(aq) + 2FeCl_3(aq) + 4H₂O_(l)

By oxidation of ferrous chloride with chlorine

2FeCl_2(aq) + Cl_2(g) → 2FeCl_3(aq)

By oxidation of ferrous chloride with oxygen

4FeCl_2(aq) + O₂ + 4HCl → 4FeCl_3(aq) + 2H₂O_(l)

Anhydrous ferric chloride cannot be produced by heating hydrated iron(III) chloride. Instead, the solid breaks down into iron oxychloride and hydrochloric acid. Thionyl chloride treatment can change hydrated iron(III) chloride into the anhydrous form. Similar to other chemicals, trimethylsilyl chloride can cause dehydration.

FeCl₃·6H₂O + 12(CH₃)₃SiCl → FeCl₃ + 6((CH₃)₃Si)₂O + 12HCl

 

Uses:

-        Ferric chloride is used in various fields. It is used in sewage treatment, in production of printed circuit boards, as a catalyst in many reactions, in laboratories, for colorimetric tests for phenols, to test gamma-hydroxybutyric acid and gamma -butyrolactone, as a drying reagent in many reactions, by bladesmiths and artisans in pattern welding, to strip aluminum coating from mirrors, to etch intricate medical devices.

-        As a coagulant and flocculant, iron(III) chloride is utilised in the manufacture of drinking water and the treatment of sewage. In this use, FeCl3 interacts with the hydroxide ion (OH) in slightly basic water to generate a floc of iron(III) hydroxide (Fe(OH)3), which is also known as ferrihydrite and may be used to remove suspended debris.

-        In the creation of printed circuit boards, copper is etched using iron(III) chloride in a two-step redox reaction to copper(I) chloride and subsequently copper(II) chloride (PCB).

-        Moreover, it serves as a leaching agent in chloride hydrometallurgy, such as when producing Si from FeSi (Silgrain process by Elkem).

-        In order to produce ethylene dichloride (1,2-dichloroethane), an essential commodity chemical that is primarily utilised for the industrial manufacturing of vinyl chloride, the monomer for creating PVC, iron (III) chloride is employed as a catalyst.

-        Iron(III) chloride is a Lewis acid that is frequently used in laboratories to catalyse reactions including electrophilic aromatic substitution chlorination of aromatic compounds and of aromatics.

-        It is used in veterinary medicine to treat an animal's overgrown claws, especially when the overgrowth causes bleeding[citation needed], used in an animal model of thrombosis, A diversely used histology fixative that is a part of Carnoy's solution.

-        Ferric Chloride is used in manufacturing of Iron based products like iron sucrose, iron cyanide, etc.

-        It is also used in glass industry to make glass more shinny and increase brightness.

-        Aqueous solution of ferric chloride is used in glycerine manufacturing, refineries, oil drilling process and mining industries for separation process. It is also used consider as one of the cheapest and highly effective chemical for water treatment.