Iron(II) chloride

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Iron(II) chloride
General
Systematic name Iron(II) chloride
Other names ferrous chloride
Molecular formula FeCl2
Molar mass 126.75 g/mol
Appearance buff crystals (anhydrous)
greenish crystals (tetrahydrate)
CAS number 7758-94-3 (anhydr.)
13478-10-9 (tetrahydrate)
EINECS number  ???
Properties
Density and phase 3.16 g/mL g/cm3, solid
Solubility in THF soluble
Solubility in water 64.4 g/100 mL (10°C),
105.7 g/100 mL (100°C)
Solubility in ethanol 100 g/100 mL
Melting point 677 °C
Structure
Coordination
geometry
octahedral at Fe
Crystal structure Monoclinic
Thermodynamic data
Standard enthalpy
of formation
ΔfH°solid
-??? kJ/mol
for the hexahydrate?
Standard molar entropy
S°solid
 ?? J.K−1.mol−1
for the hexahydrate?
Safety data
EU classification not listed
PEL-TWA (OSHA)  ?? mg/m3 (as Fe)
IDLH (NIOSH)  ?? mg/m3 (as Fe)
Flash point non flammable
RTECS number NO5400000
Supplementary data page
Structure and
properties
n, εr, etc.
Thermodynamic
data
Phase behaviour
Solid, liquid, gas
Spectral data UV, IR, NMR, MS
Related compounds
Related compounds Cobalt(II) chloride
Manganese(II) chloride
Copper(II) chloride
Except where noted otherwise, data are given for
materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa)
Infobox disclaimer and references

Iron(II) chloride, or ferrous chloride, is the chemical compound FeCl2. It is a high melting, paramagnetic solid, usually obtained with off-white color. FeCl2 crystallizes from water as the tetrahydrate, which the salt is most commonly encountered in commerce and the laboratory.

Contents

[edit] Synthesis

A classical synthesis of metal halides involves the action of hydrogen chloride on the metal.

Fe + 2 HCl → FeCl2 + H2

For FeCl2, the synthesis is more conveniently conducted using a methanol solution of concentrated hydrochloric acid. Treatment with Fe gives the methanol solvate [Fe(MeOH)6]Cl2, which upon heating in a vacuum at ca. 160 °C gives pure FeCl2.[1] FeBr2 and FeI2 can be prepared analogously.

An alternative laboratory synthesis of FeCl2 entails the reaction of FeCl3 with chlorobenzene:[2] [3]

2FeCl3 + C6H5Cl → 2FeCl2 + C6H4Cl2 + HCl

FeCl2 prepared in this way exhibits convenient solubility in tetrahydrofuran, a common solvent for chemical syntheses.

For one of his two classic syntheses of ferrocene, Wilkinson generated FeCl2 by heating FeCl3 with iron powder.[4]

[edit] Hydrated and aqueous ferrous chloride

FeCl2 forms complexes with many ligands. Its most fundamental derivative is the hydrate, FeCl2(H2O)4.

Hydrated forms of ferrous chloride are generated by treatment of wastes from steel production with hydrochloric acid. Such solutions are designated spent acid, especially when the hydrochloric acid is not completely consumed. The spent acid requires treatment before its disposal.

[edit] Reactions

FeCl2 reacts with (C2H5)4NCl to give the [(C2H5)4N]2FeCl4. Related compounds that can be prepared similarly include [(C2H5)4N]2MnCl4, [(C2H5)4N]2MnBr4, [(C2H5)4N]2MnI4, [(C2H5)4N]2FeBr4, [(C2H5)4N]2CoCl4, [(C2H5)4N]2CoBr4, [(C2H5)4N]2NiCl4, and [(C2H5)4N]2CuCl4.[5]

[edit] References

  1. ^ G. Winter, "Iron(II) Halides" in "Inorganic Syntheses" 1973, volume 14, pages 101-104.
  2. ^ P. Kovacic; N. O. Brace, "Inorganic Syntheses" 1960, volume 6, pages 172.
  3. ^ P. Kovacic and N. O. Brace "J. Am. Chem. Soc" 1954, volume 76, page 5491.
  4. ^ G. Wilkinson, "Ferrocene" Organic Syntheses, Coll. Vol. 4, p.473 (1963); Vol. 36, p.31 (1956).
  5. ^ N. S. Gill, F.. B. Taylor Inorganic Syntheses 1967, volume 9, page 136-142.

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

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