Iron(III) chloride facts for kids
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Iron(III) chloride, also known as ferric chloride, is a chemical substance. Its chemical formula is FeCl3. It is made of iron and chloride ions. The iron part has a special electrical charge, called an oxidation state, of +3.
Contents
What is Iron(III) Chloride?
Iron(III) chloride is usually a yellow solid. When it dissolves in water, it can make the water look muddy. This happens because tiny particles of iron(III) oxide form.
How it Looks in Water
If iron(III) chloride is dissolved in an acidic liquid, it looks bright yellow. But if there's a lot of it in the water, the solution turns a dark brown color.
Safety First: Corrosive Substance
It is a corrosive substance. This means it can damage your skin and metals if it touches them. It's important to be careful when handling it.
Chemical Reactions
Iron(III) chloride can react with iron to form another chemical called iron(II) chloride. In moist air, it can give off fumes of hydrochloric acid. It is also a weak oxidizing agent, which means it can take electrons from other substances. For example, it reacts with copper(I) chloride to make copper(II) chloride. When heated, it breaks down into chlorine gas and iron(II) chloride.
How is it Made?
There are a few ways to make iron(III) chloride:
- You can mix hydrochloric acid with iron(III) oxide.
- It can also be made by combining iron and chlorine gas.
- Another way is to react iron(II) chloride with chlorine at a cool temperature.
What is it Used For?
Iron(III) chloride has several important uses:
- Cleaning Water: It is used in sewage treatment plants. It reacts with slightly basic water to create a "floc." This floc is a sticky substance that helps remove unwanted materials from the water, making it cleaner.
- Making Circuit Boards: In the past, it was used to help make circuit boards. It would react with copper to create the patterns needed for the circuits. Sometimes, iron(III) nitrate is used for this purpose too.
- Helping Reactions: It acts as a catalyst in making some plastics. A catalyst is a substance that speeds up a chemical reaction without being used up itself.
- Testing in Labs: Scientists use it as a reagent in certain tests. A reagent is a substance used to cause a chemical reaction or to test for the presence of another substance.
Related pages
Images for kids
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A brown, acidic solution of iron(III) chloride
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See also
In Spanish: Cloruro de hierro(III) para niños
