What is the difference between ferrous chloride and iron chloride CAS 13478-10-9

                                          What is the difference between ferrous chloride and iron chloride

Ferrous chloride and iron chloride refer to different compounds based on their chemical compositions and properties.

Ferrous chloride, also known as iron(II) chloride, has the chemical formula FeCl2. It is characterized by its greenish to yellowish appearance and is soluble in water, ethanol, and methanol. Ferrous chloride exists in various forms, such as the anhydrous form (FeCl2) and the tetrahydrate form (FeCl2·4H2O), which is a transparent blue-green monoclinic crystal. This compound is prone to oxidation in air, gradually turning into a basic ferric chloride.

On the other hand, iron chloride typically refers to iron(III) chloride, which has the chemical formula FeCl3. Unlike ferrous chloride, iron(III) chloride exhibits different chemical properties due to its higher oxidation state of iron. Iron(III) chloride is a brownish-yellow or black crystalline solid that is highly soluble in water and forms an acidic solution. It is also soluble in organic solvents such as ethanol and acetone. Iron(III) chloride is widely used in various industrial applications, including water treatment, dyeing, and as a catalyst.

Character: It can soluble in water.

Chemical Parameters:

Ferrous chloride, also known as iron(II) chloride, has a wide range of application fields. Here are some of its main uses:

• Water treatment: It is used as a reducing agent and can help control algae and bacteria in water.
• Chemical synthesis: Due to its strong reducing properties, ferrous chloride is often used to convert ferric ions to ferrous ions in chemical reactions. It is also used as a catalyst in organic synthesis.
• Pharmaceuticals: It has certain applications in the pharmaceutical industry, although specific uses may vary.
• Dyes and pigments: Ferrous chloride is used as a mordant in dyeing fabrics and in the production of pigments.
• Metallurgy: It is used as a source of iron in the production of iron and steel.
• Other industrial applications: Ferrous chloride is also used in the manufacturing of other chemicals, as well as in the treatment of wastewater and as a component in ultra-high-pressure lubricants.

High-Purity Ferrous Chloride Production via High-Purity Iron Salt Raw Materials

Producing high-purity ferrous chloride (FeCl₂) directly from high-purity iron salts is the core scheme for high-end applications (battery/electronics/chemical synthesis), featuring simple impurity control, short process, and stable product quality with low oxidation risk.

1. Mainstream High-Purity Iron Salt Raw Materials (Direct Application)

- High-purity Ferrous Carbonate (FeCO₃, ≥99.9%)
Key impurities: Na/K ≤10ppm, Ca/Mg ≤20ppm, Cu/Ni/Zn/Cr ≤5ppm, Fe³⁺ ≤0.1%
Application: React with electronic-grade hydrochloric acid (HCl) under anaerobic condition, filter to remove insoluble impurities, concentrate and crystallize to obtain 99.9%+ FeCl₂·4H₂O.

- High-purity Ferrous Oxide (FeO, ≥99.9%)
Ultra-low impurity content, low Fe³⁺, prepared from high-purity ferrous salt/electrolytic iron
Application: Directly dissolve in electronic-grade HCl under anaerobic condition, no complex impurity removal required, ev

- High-purity Ferrous Sulfate (FeSO₄, ≥99.9%)

Impurities: Heavy metals ≤5ppm, Fe³⁺ ≤0.05%, SO₄²⁻ conform to raw material standard
Application: Conduct metathesis reaction with high-purity ammonium chloride (NH₄Cl), remove SO₄²⁻ by barium chloride precipitation, deammoniate and crystallize (cost-effective alternative).

- Electrolytic Iron Flakes/Powder (Fe ≥99.95%, 4N grade)
Impurities: Cu/Ni/Co ≤1ppm, Mn/Zn ≤3ppm, S/P ≤5ppm
Application: Dissolve in electronic-grade HCl with reducing agent (hydroquinone) under anaerobic condition, simple filtration, concentrate and crystallize; highest purity (99.99%), zero exogenous impurity, highest cost.

2. Key Raw Material & Product Specifications (High-Purity Grade)


- Main content: Iron salt ≥99.9%, electrolytic iron ≥99.95%

- Ferric ion (Fe³⁺): ≤0.05~0.1% (critical index, avoid product oxidation)

- Heavy metal impurities (Cu/Ni/Zn/Cr/Pb/Cd): Single ≤5ppm, total ≤20ppm

- Alkali metal/alkaline earth metal (Na/K/Ca/Mg): ≤10~20ppm

- Anion control: SO₄²⁻ ≤50ppm, NO₃⁻ ≤10ppm (for raw materials)