Iron(II) sulfate

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See also: Iron supplement

Iron(II) sulfate

Iron(II) sulfate when dissolved in water

Names

IUPAC name

Iron(II) sulfate
Other names

Iron(II) sulphate; Ferrous sulfate, Green vitriol, Iron vitriol, Copperas, Melanterite, Szomolnokite

Identifiers

CAS Number anhydrous: 7720-78-7 

monohydrate: 17375-41-6 

dihydrate: 10028-21-4 

heptahydrate: 7782-63-0 

3D model (JSmol)
anhydrous: Interactive image

ChEBI anhydrous: CHEBI:75832 

ChEMBL anhydrous: ChEMBL1200830 

ChemSpider anhydrous: 22804 

monohydrate: 56459 

heptahydrate: 22804 

ECHA InfoCard 100.028.867 

EC Number anhydrous: 231-753-5

PubChem CID
anhydrous: 24393

monohydrate: 62712

heptahydrate: 62662

RTECS number anhydrous: NO8500000 (anhydrous)

NO8510000 (heptahydrate)

UNII anhydrous: 2IDP3X9OUD 

monohydrate: RIB00980VW 

dihydrate: G0Z5449449 

heptahydrate: 39R4TAN1VT 

UN number 3077

CompTox Dashboard (EPA)
anhydrous: DTXSID0029688 

show

InChI

show
SMILES

Properties

Chemical formula
FeSO4

Molar mass 151.91 g/mol (anhydrous)

169.93 g/mol (monohydrate)

241.99 g/mol (pentahydrate)

260.00 g/mol (hexahydrate)

278.02 g/mol (heptahydrate)

Appearance White crystals (anhydrous)

White-yellow crystals (monohydrate)

Blue-green crystals (heptahydrate)

Odor Odorless

Density 3.65 g/cm3 (anhydrous)

3 g/cm3 (monohydrate)

2.15 g/cm3 (pentahydrate)[1]

1.934 g/cm3 (hexahydrate)[2]

1.895 g/cm3 (heptahydrate)[3]

Melting point 680 °C (1,256 °F; 953 K)

(anhydrous) decomposes[5]

300 °C (572 °F; 573 K)

(monohydrate) decomposes

60–64 °C (140–147 °F; 333–337 K)

(heptahydrate) decomposes[3][10]

Solubility in water
Monohydrate:

44.69 g/100 mL (77 °C)

35.97 g/100 mL (90.1 °C)

Heptahydrate:

15.65 g/100 mL (0 °C)

20.5 g/100 mL (10 °C)

29.51 g/100 mL (25 °C)

39.89 g/100 mL (40.1 °C)

51.35 g/100 mL (54 °C)[4]

Solubility Negligible in alcohol

Solubility in ethylene glycol 6.4 g/100 g (20 °C)[5]

Vapor pressure 1.95 kPa (heptahydrate)[6]

Magnetic susceptibility (χ)
1.24×10−2 cm3/mol (anhydrous)

1.05×10−2 cm3/mol (monohydrate)

1.12×10−2 cm3/mol (heptahydrate)[3]

+10200×10−6 cm3/mol

Refractive index (nD)
1.591 (monohydrate)[7]

1.526–1.528 (21 °C, tetrahydrate)[8]

1.513–1.515 (pentahydrate)[1]

1.468 (hexahydrate)[2]

1.471 (heptahydrate)[9]

Structure

Crystal structure
Orthorhombic, oP24 (anhydrous)[11]

Monoclinic, mS36 (monohydrate)[7]

Monoclinic, mP72 (tetrahydrate)[8]

Triclinic, aP42 (pentahydrate)[1]

Monoclinic, mS192 (hexahydrate)[2]

Monoclinic, mP108 (heptahydrate)[3][9]

Space group
Pnma, No. 62 (anhydrous) [11]

C2/c, No. 15 (monohydrate, hexahydrate)[2][7]

P21/n, No. 14 (tetrahydrate)[8]

P1, No. 2 (pentahydrate)[1]

P21/c, No. 14 (heptahydrate)[9]

Point group
2/m 2/m 2/m (anhydrous)[11]

2/m (monohydrate, tetrahydrate, hexahydrate,

heptahydrate)[2][7][8][9]

1 (pentahydrate)[1]

Lattice constant
a = 8.704(2) Å, b = 6.801(3) Å, c = 4.786(8) Å (293 K,

anhydrous)[11]

α = 90°, β = 90°, γ = 90°

Coordination geometry
Octahedral (Fe2+)
 Thermochemistry

Heat capacity (C)
100.6 J/mol·K (anhydrous)[3]

394.5 J/mol·K (heptahydrate)[12]

Std molar
107.5 J/mol·K (anhydrous)[3]
entropy (So298)
409.1 J/mol·K (heptahydrate)[12]

Std enthalpy of
−928.4 kJ/mol (anhydrous)[3]
formation (ΔfH ⦵
)
298
−3016 kJ/mol (heptahydrate)[12]

Gibbs free energy (ΔfG˚)

−820.8 kJ/mol (anhydrous)[3]

−2512 kJ/mol (heptahydrate)[12]

Pharmacology

ATC code
B03AA07 (WHO)

Hazards

GHS pictograms

[6]

GHS Signal word Warning

GHS hazard statements

H302, H315, H319[6]

GHS precautionary statements

P305+P351+P338[6]

NFPA 704 (fire diamond) [14]

1
0
0

Lethal dose or concentration (LD, LC):

LD50 (median dose)
237 mg/kg (rat, oral)[10]

NIOSH (US health exposure limits):

REL (Recommended)
TWA 1 mg/m3[13]

Related compounds
 Other cations
Cobalt(II) sulfate

Copper(II) sulfate

Manganese(II) sulfate

Nickel(II) sulfate

Related compounds
Iron(III) sulfate

Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F],

100 kPa).

 verify (what is   ?)

Infobox references

Iron(II) sulfate (British English: iron(II) sulphate) or ferrous sulfate denotes a range

of salts with the formula Fe ·xH O. These compounds exist most commonly as the
SO4 2

heptahydrate (x = 7) but are known for several values of x. The hydrated form is used
medically to treat iron deficiency, and also for industrial applications. Known since
ancient times as copperas and as green vitriol (vitriol is an archaic name for sulfate),
the blue-green heptahydrate (hydrate with 7 molecules of water) is the most common
form of this material. All the iron(II) sulfates dissolve in water to give the same aquo
complex [Fe(H O) ] , which has octahedral molecular geometry and is paramagnetic.
2 6
2+

The name copperas dates from times when the copper(II) sulfate was known as blue
copperas, and perhaps in analogy, iron(II) and zinc sulfate were known respectively as
green and white copperas. [15]

It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines, the safest and most
effective medicines needed in a health system.  In 2019, it was the 103rd most [16]

commonly prescribed medication in the United States, with more than 6 million
prescriptions. [17][18]

Contents

 1Uses
o 1.1Medical use
o 1.2Plant growth
o 1.3Pigment and craft
o 1.4Historical uses
 2Hydrates
 3Production and reactions
o 3.1Reactions
 4See also
 5References
 6External links

Uses[edit]
Industrially, ferrous sulfate is mainly used as a precursor to other iron compounds. It is
a reducing agent, and as such is useful for the reduction of chromate in cement to less
toxic Cr(III) compounds. Historically ferrous sulfate was used in the textile industry for
centuries as a dye fixative. It is used historically to blacken leather and as a constituent
of iron gall ink.  The preparation of sulfuric acid ('oil of vitriol') by the distillation of green
[19]

vitriol (Iron(II) sulfate) has been known for at least 700 years.
Medical use[edit]
Main article: Iron supplement
Plant growth[edit]
Iron(II) sulfate is sold as ferrous sulfate, a soil amendment  for lowering the pH of a high
[20]

alkaline soil so that plants can access the soil's nutrients. [21]

In horticulture it is used for treating iron chlorosis.  Although not as rapid-acting as ferric

[22]

EDTA, its effects are longer-lasting. It can be mixed with compost and dug into the soil
to create a store which can last for years.  It is also used as a lawn conditioner,  and
[23] [23]

moss killer.
Pigment and craft[edit]
Ferrous sulfate can be used to stain concrete and some limestones and sandstones a
yellowish rust color. [24]

Woodworkers use ferrous sulfate solutions to color maple wood a silvery hue.

Green vitriol is also a useful reagent in the identification of mushrooms. [25]

Historical uses[edit]
Ferrous sulfate was used in the manufacture of inks, most notably iron gall ink, which
was used from the middle ages until the end of the 18th century. Chemical tests made
on the Lachish letters (c. 588–586 BCE) showed the possible presence of iron.  It is [26]

thought that oak galls and copperas may have been used in making the ink on those
letters.  It also finds use in wool dyeing as a mordant. Harewood, a material used
[27]

in marquetry and parquetry since the 17th century, is also made using ferrous sulfate.

Two different methods for the direct application of indigo dye were developed in
England in the 18th century and remained in use well into the 19th century. One of
these, known as china blue, involved iron(II) sulfate. After printing an insoluble form of
indigo onto the fabric, the indigo was reduced to leuco-indigo in a sequence of baths of
ferrous sulfate (with reoxidation to indigo in air between immersions). The china blue
process could make sharp designs, but it could not produce the dark hues of other
methods.
In the second half of the 1850s ferrous sulfate was used as a photographic developer
for collodion process images. [28]

Hydrates[edit]
Iron(II) sulfate can be found in various states of hydration, and several of these forms
exist in nature.
 FeSO ·H O (mineral: szomolnokite,  relatively rare)
4 2
[7]

 FeSO ·4H O (mineral: rozenite,  white, relatively common, may be dehydratation

4 2
[8][29]

product of melanterite)
 FeSO ·5H O (mineral: siderotil,  relatively rare)
4 2
[1][30]

 FeSO ·6H O (mineral: ferrohexahydrite,  relatively rare)

4 2
[2][31]

 FeSO ·7H O (mineral: melanterite,  blue-green, relatively common)

4 2
[9][32]

Anhydrous iron(II) sulfate

The tetrahydrate is stabilized when the temperature of aqueous solutions reaches

56.6 °C (133.9 °F). At 64.8 °C (148.6 °F) these solutions form both the tetrahydrate and
monohydrate. [4]

Mineral forms are found in oxidation zones of iron-bearing ore beds,

e.g. pyrite, marcasite, chalcopyrite, etc. They are also found in related environments,
like coal fire sites. Many rapidly dehydrate and sometimes oxidize. Numerous other,
more complex (either basic, hydrated, and/or containing additional cations) Fe(II)-
bearing sulfates exist in such environments, with copiapite being a common example. [33]

Production and reactions[edit]

In the finishing of steel prior to plating or coating, the steel sheet or rod is passed
through pickling baths of sulfuric acid. This treatment produces large quantities of
iron(II) sulfate as a by-product. [34]

Fe + H SO  → FeSO  + H
2 4 4 2

Another source of large amounts results from the production of titanium

dioxide from ilmenite via the sulfate process.
Ferrous sulfate is also prepared commercially by oxidation of pyrite: [35]

2 FeS  + 7 O  + 2 H O → 2 FeSO  + 2 H SO

2 2 2 4 2 4

It can be produced by displacement of metals less reactive than Iron from

solutions of their sulfate: CuSO  + Fe → FeSO  + Cu 4 4