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What is Iron (III) Hydroxide?

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Last updated date: 25th Apr 2024
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Introduction to Iron (III) Hydroxide?

Iron (III) hydroxide is the chemical compound, which is made of hydrogen, Iron, and oxygen having the chemical formula Fe(OH)3. Based on the hydration, crystal structure, and particle size and shape, the colour of the iron III hydroxides differ from dark-brown to black. Here we will study the Iron III hydroxide formula, its properties, chemical structure and uses. Ferric hydroxide formula is also Fe(OH)3.


Iron III Hydroxide Properties


Chemical Name

Iron III Hydroxide

Other names

Ferric acid

Iron hydroxide formula or formula of ferric hydroxide

Fe(OH)3

Melting Point

135 °C

Molar Mass

106.867 g/mol

Density

4.25 g/cm³

Appearance

Vivid dark orange crystals

Solubility in Water

Insoluble


Let us look at the other properties below.

The colour of Iron (III) oxyhydroxide ranges from yellow through dark-brown to black, based on the degree of hydration, particle shape, and size, and crystal structure.


Structure

The crystal structure of β-FeOOH (also called akaganeite) is that of BaMn8O16 or hollandite. The unit cell is tetragonal, having a=1.048 and c=0.3023 nm, and holds 8 formula units of FeOOH. Its dimensions are up to 500 × 50 × 50 nm. Often, twinning produces particles having the shape of hexagonal stars.


Chemistry

On heating Iron III Hydroxide, β-FeOOH decomposes and recrystallizes as α-Fe2O3 (which is called hematite).


Natural Occurrences

Anhydrous ferric hydroxide takes place in nature as the exceedingly rare mineral bernalite, Fe(OH)3·nH2O (n=0.0-0.25). Iron oxyhydroxides are also called FeOOH. They are more common and take place naturally as structurally various minerals (or polymorphs) and are denoted by the Greek letters α, β, γ, and δ.

  • Goethite with the chemical formula - α-FeO(OH) has been used as the ocher pigment since prehistoric times.

  • Feroxyhyte (δ) can be formed under the high-pressure conditions of the ocean and sea floors, being thermodynamically unstable with respect to the α-polymorph (or goethite) at the surface conditions.


Uses

  • Limonite, which is a mixture of different polymorphs and hydrates of ferric oxyhydroxide, is one of the three primary iron ores, having been used since 2500 BC, at least.

  • Yellow iron oxide, otherwise called Pigment Yellow 42, is the Food and Drug Administration - FDA approved for the usage in cosmetics and can be used in a few tattoo inks.

  • Also, iron oxide-hydroxide can be used in aquarium water treatment as a phosphate binder.

  • The nanoparticles of iron oxide-hydroxide have been studied as possible adsorbents for the removal of lead from aquatic media.


Conclusion

The iron III hydroxide formula is the subject of this article. The chemical composition iron III hydroxide is made up of iron, oxygen, and hydrogen. Furthermore, the colour of iron III hydroxide varies from dark-brown to black depending on hydration, particle shape, and crystal structure. Furthermore, this molecule is water insoluble. In aquarium water treatment, it can be used as a phosphate binder. Ferric hydroxide and hydrated iron oxide are other names for iron III hydroxide.

FAQs on What is Iron (III) Hydroxide?

1. What is Amorphous Iron III Hydroxide Crystallization?

Hydrolysis of the ferric solutions may initially lead to mono- and dinuclear species. Moreover, these species interact to result in the production of further species with higher nuclearity. These polynuclear species age eventually either to the amorphous precipitate (amorphous iron (III) hydroxide hydrate) or to the crystalline compounds.

2. How Do You Separate Solid Iron III Hydroxide From Solid Sodium Chloride? What is the Chemical Formula For Iron III Hydroxide?

First, dissolve the mixture in water. You should know that the transition metal (Fe) oxides, in this case, won’t dissolve in water. So, filter out the solution and then boil the filtrate till the water has completely left (evaporation). The left ones are pure NaCl crystals. Meanwhile, the dirty brown residue which is derived from the filtration of the mixture earlier will then be pure Fe(OH)3. The ferric hydroxide formula or the Iron hydroxide formula is given as Fe(OH)3.

3. Give Any Use of Sodium Hydroxide.

A major use of sodium hydroxide is in the paper from wood manufacturing. Wood is treated with a solution containing a combination of sodium hydroxide and sodium sulphide in the most often used Kraft method. Most of the unwanted material present in the wood, such as the lignins, will dissolve in the liquor by leaving the relatively pure cellulose that is filtered off. It is this cellulose that, after further purification, forms the basis of the paper.