Sciencemadness Discussion Board

Ferric chloride

12AX7 - 21-9-2009 at 07:41

FWIW. The comments sound like this really is anhydrous,

http://www.allelectronics.com/make-a-store/item/ER-3/DRY-CON...

Tim

mr.crow - 21-9-2009 at 08:00

Doesn't anhydrous FeCl3 fume in the air to make HCl and generally act unpleasant like AlCl3?

Sounds like a misunderstanding on their part, they probably mean to say its not in a solution. The package also doesn't specify.

I got some Chinese ACS grade FeCl3 (hydrated) from an electronics store in the form of solid brown pieces, not a powder tho.

woelen - 21-9-2009 at 09:21

It looks like it is anhydrous, the 6-hydrate is light brown/yellow, the anhydrous compound is almost black (I have some and it does not fume like anhydrous AlCl3).

mr.crow - 21-9-2009 at 14:51

That is true, but maybe the bag is just black.

On further thought it sounds very possible, you should get some and see. Shipping from the States kills me in Canada.

This would be very useful for Friedel Crafts reactions, but there is probably some water contamination.