Ferrous chloride (FeCl₃) and ferrous chloride (FeCl₂) are two important chlorides of iron. There are significant differences in their composition, properties and applications.
| Property | Ferrous Chloride (FeCl₂) | Ferric Chloride (FeCl₃) |
|---|---|---|
| Appearance | Anhydrous solid: light green crystals; may turn dark green when hygroscopic. | Anhydrous solid: tan-brown crystals; easily deliquesces into reddish-brown liquid. |
| Solubility | Highly soluble in water (forms light green solution); soluble in ethanol and methanol. | Highly soluble in water (forms yellow or reddish-brown solution, strongly acidic); soluble in organic solvents. |
| Melting/Boiling Point | Melting point: ~674°C; boiling point: ~1023°C (decomposes). | Melting point: ~306°C; boiling point: ~315°C (sublimes, decomposes into FeCl₂ and Cl₂). |
| Crystal Structure | Hexagonal crystal system with distinct ionic bond characteristics. | Layered structure with both ionic and covalent bond characteristics; prone to forming polymer molecules (e.g., Fe₂Cl₆). |
Ferrous chloride (FeCl₃)
Application areas
iron 3 chloride:
- Use high-efficiency flocculant in water treatment (adsorbing impurities by Fe (OH)₃ colloids generated by hydrolysis);
- Catalysts in organic synthesis (such as alkylation of aromatic hydrocarbons);
- Printed circuit board (PCB) etchant (react with Cu to dissolve copper);
- Used in medicine for hemostatic or antiperspirant;
- Extract precious metals (such as gold and silver) from the metallurgical industry.
iron 2 chloride:
- Used to prepare other iron compounds (such as Fe₃O₄);
- As a reducing agent (such as treatment of chromium-containing wastewater);
- As a mottled agent in the printing and dyeing industry;
- It is used in agriculture to treat iron deficiency yelitis in plants.
Fe²⁺ is reducing, Fe³⁺ is oxidizing. This core difference leads to significant differences between the two in physical properties, chemical reactions and practical applications.
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