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Ferric chloride hexahydrate, also known as iron(III) chloride hexahydrate, is a solid compound of the formula FeCl3(H2O)x. It is a common source of iron in its +3 oxidation state and can be obtained both in anhydrous and hydrated forms.
The crystalline form of iron(III) chloride is a brownish-orange solid, with the oxidation state of iron being +3. It is a strong Lewis acid and has been used in organic synthesis as a catalyst.
It is a mild oxidising agent and can react with copper(I) chloride to give copper(II) chloride. It can also oxidise ethylene to produce ethylene dichloride (Ethylene Chloride), a commodity chemical used as the monomer in producing PVC.
Molecular Structure of Ferric Chloride
Iron(III) chloride adopts the BiI3 structure, featuring octahedral Fe(III) centres interconnected by two-coordinate chloride ligands. This structure is stable in acidic solutions but not in the presence of reducing agents such as hydrazine.
Reactions with Oxalates
Aqueous iron(III) chloride reacts rapidly with oxalates to form [Fe(C2O4)3]3-, which is known as ferrioxalate. Other carboxylate salts such as citrate and tartrate also bind to the iron(III) ion.
In sewage treatment, iron(III) chloride is treated with a hydroxide ion to form a floc of iron(III) hydroxide (FeO(OH)-), which can remove suspended materials. It is an alternative to iron(III) sulfate in this application. It is also used as a coagulant in water production.