Sciencemadness Discussion Board

Electrilysis of Iron(III) Chloride?

Jango - 3-12-2010 at 12:58

If I electrolysed Iron(III) Chloride solution, what would I get at the anode and cathode?

I guess I would get Fe at the cathode and Cl2 at the anode, but I'm not sure if Fe is too reactive to be made at the cathode. What about Zinc Chloride as well? Would I make Zn at the cathode?

not_important - 3-12-2010 at 13:45

Hmmm imagine what if I were to Google "iron plating" or "zinc plating", what might I learn?


cyanureeves - 3-12-2010 at 18:48

what will you use for anode?if you use silver youll get silver chloride in your solution. it will look like milk.maybe youll get fe just in your solution as well and some form of fe on cathode.you ought to try it.it could be a coolway to galvanize with zinc.either way youll definitely get cl for sure.i could never get the zinc to stick permanently on cathode with home made zinc chloride made with hcl. i havent tried nitrating zinc then adding nacl to see if i can get zinc chloride that way.

Jango - 4-12-2010 at 04:28

Thanks for your replies, and yes, I did check Google first, but I didn't get any good answers...

I was thinking of using an iron or graphite cathode for both, and a graphite anode of course. :)

12AX7 - 5-12-2010 at 07:31

Fe or Fe(II) will form at the cathode, the latter particularly at low voltages.

Speaking of iron plating, does anyone know which additives create a flat, smooth deposit?

Tim

cyanureeves - 5-12-2010 at 18:34

hey jango. it can be done. i just read a patent that said a ferrous salt can be used along with boric acid.yep!cockroach killer boric acid. except it says to use iron anode.:cool: