Iron chloride hexahydrate CAS 10025-77-1

What is Ferric chloride hexahydrate?

The most common hydrated crystalline form of ferric chloride is ferric chloride hexahydrate , also ferric chloride hexahydrate or ferric chloride hexahydrate ( ferric chloride ). It is most often denoted by the chemical formula:

FeCl3.6H2O (CAS No.: 10025-77-1, molecular weight ca. 270.30

It is a yellowish-brown or orange-yellow crystalline or lumpy solid at room temperature, with no smell but a slightly astringent taste, with a density of about 1.82 g/cm3, a melting point of only about 37 (it will dissolve in its own water of crystallization), and a boiling point of about 280~285 . It is highly soluble in water (about 246 grams in 100 grams of water at 0℃ and even more in warm water) and soluble in solvents like ethanol, acetone and ether. Dissolution is very exothermic and its aqueous solution is strongly acidic.

Ferric chloride hexahydrate contains one ferric ion (Fe3+), three chloride ions (Cl-) and six molecules of crystallization water. Ferric ions hydrolyze readily in water, forming polynuclear hydroxyl complexes and a flocculent ferric hydroxide precipitate, which makes it a classic iron salt coagulant; the oxidizing properties of ferric ions also give it the ability to etch metals, to serve as an oxidizing agent and to perform analytical colorimetric reactions.

Ferric chloride hexahydrate is very hygroscopic. In moist air it deliquesces to a reddish-brown liquid. It is strongly acidic in aqueous solution and can coagulate proteins. It reacts with metals such as copper and iron and undergoes oxidative dissolution. It reacts with alkalis and forms a precipitate of ferric hydroxide. It is very deliquescent and has to be kept in a sealed, moisture-proof container.

Non-industrial grade ferric chloride hexahydrate refers to products that are not manufactured for mass industrial use and are used in applications such as scientific research, drinking water purification, and arts and crafts. These products are mainly of reagent grade and water purification grade. Non-industrial grade ferric chloride hexahydrate focuses on the following indicators more than industrial grade products:

Ferrous content

Ferrous ions can affect coagulation performance and analytical applications, and their content needs to be controlled to ensure product quality.

Water-insoluble matter

Water-insoluble matter can affect the purity of reagents and the effectiveness of adding purified water, and must be kept at a low level.

Regulatory compliance

Products used for drinking water treatment must pass relevant health and safety assessments and standard certifications. Safety regulations must also be observed for applications in arts and crafts and education.

What are the uses of Ferric chloride hexahydrate?

1. Analytical Chemistry and Scientific Research (Reagent Grade)

Ferric chloride is a chemical analysis reagent used in common practice. It can be used for determination of substances like arsenic, lithium, tin, selenium, vanadium, thiocyanate, ferricyanide and serum total cholesterol. It is also used as a colorimetric reagent in laboratories and as a raw material for teaching experiments. It is a commonly utilized reagent in analytical laboratories and research institutions.

2. Water Treatment (Core Application)

Ferric chloride is one of the most widely used iron salt coagulants, used in drinking water and industrial water purification, municipal and industrial wastewater treatment, sludge dewatering, swimming pool circulating water and landscape water purification. It is easily soluble in water, produces large and heavy flocs, forms denser flocs than aluminum salts, has good sedimentation properties, and can effectively remove phosphorus, decolorize, remove heavy metals and some organic matter, reduce effluent COD and BOD.

3. Photolithography and Plate Production for Printing

Ferric chloride is used as an etching material for printing plates and as a reagent in photolithography. It is used in gravure, letterpress and other plate making process; it is an important chemical material in the publishing and printing industry.

4. Arts and Crafts DIY Etching

Etching metal is a common process for making handicrafts, decorative parts and signs. Ferric chloride etching solution is also widely used by hobbyists for DIY metal etching and amateur PCB making. It is a widely available and stable etching agent in the arts and crafts field.

5. Etching Metal and Printed Circuit Boards

Ferric chloride is one of the most common etchants used in PCB manufacturing. The acidic solution reacts with copper in a redox reaction to produce soluble copper chloride . This etches out circuit patterns in a precise way .

6. Production of iron salt and pigment

Ferric chloride is the basic raw material for the manufacture of iron-based pigments such as iron oxide red, iron oxide yellow and other iron salt products. Iron-based pigments are extensively used for coloring of coatings, building materials, ceramics and plastics.

7. Metal Processing and Surface Treatment

In the metallurgical industry, ferric chloride is used as a chlorinating agent for chlorination extraction and recovery of metals and for rust removal, corrosion processing and protective treatment of metal surfaces.

8. Oxidants and Catalysts

Ferric chloride, a strong Lewis acid catalyst and oxidant, can be employed in different organic chemical synthesis reactions to enhance the reaction efficiency and selectivity. It is a commonly utilized catalytic/oxidizing agent in organic chemical engineering and fine chemical engineering.

9. Additional Purposes

The application scenarios of non-industrial grade ferric chloride are constantly expanding with the development of cultural and creative industries and science education, including teaching demonstration experiments, small-batch production of iron-based pigments, and customized synthesis.

Summarize

Ferric chloride hexahydrate, or ferric chloride hexahydrate, is a yellowish-brown, highly hygroscopic, and readily soluble iron salt, and is the most commonly used type of iron salt coagulant. In daily life, we indirectly encounter it through tap water purification, sewage treatment, PCB etching for electronic products, printing etching, iron-based pigments, and swimming pool water treatment. In non-industrial applications, reagent-grade and water-purifying grade ferric chloride hexahydrate are widely used in analytical chemistry and scientific research, drinking water purification, photolithography and printing plate making, arts and crafts and DIY etching, and small-scale water treatment, making it an important inorganic chemical bridging "daily use" with "scientific research, health, and cultural and creative industries."