Iron(III) Hydroxide Precipitation

FeCl₃ + 3NaOH → Fe(OH)₃↓ + 3NaCl

Aperçu

Iron(III) chloride reacts with sodium hydroxide to form a rust-brown gelatinous precipitate of iron(III) hydroxide. Fe(OH)₃ has an extremely low Ksp of 2.8 × 10⁻³⁹, precipitating even at slightly acidic pH. The gelatinous nature makes it an excellent flocculant for water treatment.

Participants

Rôle	Substance	Coefficient	État
Réactif	Iron(III) Chloride FeCl₃	1	(aq)
Réactif	Sodium Hydroxide NaOH	3	(aq)
Produit	Sodium Chloride NaCl	3	(aq)

Exemple du quotidien

The rust-colored sludge in water treatment plants is mainly iron(III) hydroxide precipitated by adding base to iron-rich water.

Importance industrielle

Iron(III) hydroxide precipitation is the primary method for iron removal from drinking water and is used as a coagulant in wastewater treatment.

Propriétés

Type: Precipitation
Réversible: Non
Énergie: Exothermique
ΔH: -88,0 kJ/mol

Réactions associées

Barium Carbonate Precipitation Barium Sulfate Precipitation Cadmium Sulfide Precipitation (Yellow) Calcium Fluoride Precipitation (Fluorite) Calcium Phosphate Precipitation (Bone Mineral) Chromium(III) Hydroxide Precipitation Lead Carbonate Precipitation Lead Chloride Precipitation Calcium Carbonate Precipitation Aluminum Hydroxide Precipitation

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the equation for Iron(III) Hydroxide Precipitation?

The balanced equation is: FeCl₃ + 3NaOH → Fe(OH)₃↓ + 3NaCl.

What type of reaction is Iron(III) Hydroxide Precipitation?

Iron(III) Hydroxide Precipitation is a precipitation reaction.

Is Iron(III) Hydroxide Precipitation exothermic or endothermic?

Iron(III) Hydroxide Precipitation is exothermic (releases energy). The enthalpy change (ΔH) is -88.0 kJ/mol.