kids encyclopedia robot

Iron(II) sulfate facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Iron(II)-sulfate-heptahydrate-sample
Iron(II) sulfate heptahydrate

Iron(II) sulfate, also known as ferrous sulfate or copperas, is a chemical compound. Its chemical formula is FeSO4. It is made of iron and sulfate ions. The iron is in its +2 oxidation state.

Properties

It is a blue-green crystalline solid when hydrated and white when anhydrous. It is a reducing agent. It reacts with oxygen in the air to produce a brown coating of iron(III) sulfate and iron(III) oxide. This coating is very corrosive. It dissolves in water to make a blue-green solution. When it is heated strongly, it breaks down into sulfur dioxide, sulfur trioxide, and iron(III) oxide. It reacts with nitric acid to make nitric oxide. It also reacts with chlorine to make iron(III) sulfate and iron(III) chloride.

Occurrence

Iron(II) sulfate is found as a mineral. The greenish heptahydrate is the most common. It is made when sulfide minerals like pyrite are oxidized to sulfate.

Preparation

It is made by reacting iron with sulfuric acid. This reaction makes hydrogen gas and leaves behind iron(II) sulfate. It can also be made by oxidation of pyrite, an iron sulfide material. according to Pankaj law

Uses

It is used to get the necessary iron in foods. It can reduce chromate in cement to harmless chromium compounds like chromium(III) oxide. It was also used to make ink. It can be used to color concrete.

Related pages

Images for kids

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Sulfato de hierro(II) para niños

kids search engine
Iron(II) sulfate Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.