Iron chloride facts for kids

Iron chloride is a name for two different but related chemicals. Both are compounds made from the elements iron and chlorine. They look different and have different uses, but both are important in many industries.

What is Iron Chloride?

Iron chloride refers to two main chemical compounds. These are:

• Iron(III) chloride, also known as ferric chloride.
• Iron(II) chloride, also known as ferrous chloride.

The Roman numerals (II and III) tell us about the "charge" or "oxidation state" of the iron atom in the compound. This simply means how many electrons the iron atom has given away when it forms a chemical bond with chlorine. This small difference makes them behave very differently!

Iron(III) Chloride (Ferric Chloride)

Iron(III) chloride is a chemical compound with the formula FeCl{{subst:2}}. It is also called ferric chloride. When it's pure, it looks like dark green crystals. But when it's dissolved in water, it usually appears as a brownish-yellow liquid.

What is Ferric Chloride Used For?

Ferric chloride is a very useful chemical. Here are some of its main uses:

• Water Treatment: One of its biggest jobs is helping to clean water. It's used in water treatment plants to remove tiny particles and impurities from drinking water and wastewater. It makes these small particles clump together, so they can be easily filtered out.
• Etching: It's used to etch (or carve) copper in the making of printed circuit boards (PCBs). These are the green boards inside almost all electronic devices, like phones and computers.
• Pigments: It can be used to make certain colors or pigments for paints and other materials.
• Medicine: Sometimes, it's used in medicine, for example, to stop bleeding in minor cuts or in some dental procedures.

How is Ferric Chloride Made?

Ferric chloride can be made in several ways. One common way is by reacting iron with chlorine gas. It can also be made by reacting iron with hydrochloric acid and then adding an oxidizing agent.

Iron(II) Chloride (Ferrous Chloride)

Iron(II) chloride is another chemical compound, and its formula is FeCl{{subst:2}}. It is also known as ferrous chloride. Unlike ferric chloride, ferrous chloride is usually a pale green solid. It can also form a green solution when dissolved in water.

What is Ferrous Chloride Used For?

Ferrous chloride also has many important uses:

• Water Treatment: Like ferric chloride, it's also used in water treatment. It helps remove pollutants and odors from water.
• Pigments: It's used in the production of some pigments, especially those used for paints and textiles.
• Agriculture: Sometimes, it's used in agriculture as a supplement for plants that need more iron.
• Medicine: In some cases, it's used in medicine to treat iron deficiency anemia, which is when your body doesn't have enough iron.

How is Ferrous Chloride Made?

Ferrous chloride can be made by reacting iron metal with hydrochloric acid. It's important to keep it away from oxygen because it can react with oxygen in the air to change into ferric chloride.

Key Differences

The main differences between iron(III) chloride and iron(II) chloride are:

• Color: Ferric chloride is usually brownish-yellow (in solution), while ferrous chloride is pale green.
• Iron State: In ferric chloride, iron is in its +3 oxidation state. In ferrous chloride, iron is in its +2 oxidation state.
• Reactivity: Ferrous chloride is more easily oxidized (reacts with oxygen) than ferric chloride.

Both forms of iron chloride are important chemicals that help us in many ways, from cleaning our water to making our electronic devices work!