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Mohr's Salt
Introduction
Mohr's Salt is a common laboratory reagent since it readily undergoes crystallization and the
crystals formed by it are quite resistant to oxidation in the presence of air. It can also be noted
that Mohr's Salt is named after the German scientist named "Karl Friedrich Mohr.”
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What is Mohr's Salt?
Mohr's Salt, also known as ammonium iron (I) sulfate, is an inorganic compound having the
chemical formula or the mohr salt formula or the ferrous ammonium sulphate formula as
(NH,),Fe(SO,),(H,0),. This compound is well-known to contain two primary cations, namely the
ferrous cation (denoted by Feo*) and ammonium cation (denoted by NH,"). Thus, Mohr's Salt
can be categorized as a double salt of ferrous sulfate and ferrous ammonium sulphate.
When dissolved in water, Mohr's Salt (like most of the other salts of ferrous sulfate) dissolves
to yleld an aquo complex having the chemical formula or the mohr salt formula or the ferrous
ammonium sulphate formula as [Fe(H,0),J2*. This is also called the chemical formula of Mohr
Salt. Also, it is to note that this aquo complex has an octahedral molecular geometry and
commonly, the mineral form of Mohs Salt is referred to as mohrite.
Structure of Mohr's Salt
Let us look at the structure of Mohr's Salt.
Mohr's Salt is known to belong to the family of double sulfates, which are collectively known as
Tutton's salts (or as Schonites in some cases). All members of this family (including the Mohr's
Salt) are known to form crystals with a monoclinic geometry. The bonding patterns present in
the molecular structure of the Mohr salt feature octahedral centres are made up of
[Fe(H,0),]2* centers. Moreover, these centres are known to form hydrogen bonds with sulfate
and ferrous ammonium sulphate ions.
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Preparation of Mohr's SaltLear UNE Online
Typically, the preparation of the Mohr's Salt involves the dissolution of hydrated ferrous sulfate
(mixed in an equimolar ratio) and ferrous ammonium sulphate in water, which contains a small
amount of sulfuric acid.
After that, the resultant solution goes through a crystallization process to produce bright green
Mohr's Salt crystals. Also, it can be noted that the Salt undergoes ionization to release the
entire cations and anions present in it when it is heated. Common impurities, which may be
present in Mohr's Salt, are given as magnesium, nickel, lead, zinc and manganese. The majority
of these impurities are known to form isomorphous salts.
Typically, dilute sulphuric acid is added in order to prevent the hydrolysis of the ferrous sulphate
compound. Generally, while dissolving the salt mixture in water, excessive heating is avoided.
This is completed in order to prevent the conversion of Fe** ions (which are light green in color)
to Fe’ ions (which are usually yellow in color). If in case a yellow-colored solution is obtained,
the process should be repeated. Whereas, if the crystals do not separate on cooling, some
crystals of the mohr's Salt can be added to the concentrated solution in order to promote the
crystal growth. In general, this is referred to as "seeding.
Properties of Mohr's Salt
Let us look at the Properties of Mohr's Salt in detail.Lear UNE Online
+ The molar mass of the Mohr's Salt or the molecular mass of Mohr Salt (in its anhydrous
state) is given as 284.05 grams per mole. The hexahydrate of Mohr's Salt is known to
have a molar mass of 392.13 grams per one mole.
«The chemical formula of anhydrous Mohr's Salt is given as Fe(SO,)(NH,),(SO,) and the
hexahydrate form can be represented with the chemical formula Fe(SO,)
(NH,),(S0,).6H,0.
«The density of the Mohr's Salt under standard conditions is given as 1.86 grams per
cubic centimetre.
“Under the standard conditions for both temperature and pressure (which is often
abbreviated to STP), the appearance of Mohr's Salt is bluish-green in color. And it exists
as a crystalline solid under these specified conditions,
+ The solubility of hexahydrate of the Mohr's Salt in water is roughly about 269 grams per
litre at STP.
+ The molar mass of FeSO,,.(NH,),SO,.6H,0 or the molecular weight of ferrous ammonium
sulphate is given as 392.1388 g/mol. This is also called either molar mass of ferrous
ammonium sulphate or molecular formula of mohr salt.
Double Salt
As we all know, salts usually differ. The orientation and size of the crystal structure can impact
the transparency or opacity, flavor, texture, properties and color of the Salt.
Double Salt is defined as the mixture of two various simple crystalline salts. By different here, it
means that every Salt in the mixture has its own and unique crystal structure. Therefore, the
property of the double Salt is changed from the properties of every Salt in the mixture.
A few examples of double salts are given as Tuttor's Salts that are used for chemical analysis
and in the understanding of light dispersion in chemicals. Further, Alum is also a double salt,
which is popular for a wide range of uses, where a few of them include.
+ Fire resistance for fabrics, cloths and wood
+ Culinary - as a preservative in pickles
« Medicine that contains drying properties and can treat such things as the canker sores
+ Fire extinguishers, which are helpful to either chemical or oil firesVedaniti,
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Some Alternatives of Salt
Moderate amounts of Salt are not bad for humans. Sodium is an essential nutrient for the
human body and fewer amounts help to maintain a good balance of both minerals and water.
Still, it is much better if you avoid the iodized table salt that is highly refined and most
commonly used in fast-foods, stripped from most of the nutrient content
You can use the 7 alternatives to table Salt, which are given below:
Name of
S| the Definition Taste Profile Benefits
No
Alternative
Sea salt is
defined as the _| Flavour is stronger than Because generally, less is
term salt table salt, so use it less to | More When it comes to sea
produced by create a similar taste salt It delivers less sodium
evaporating profile in the dishes. It level than the common
table salt. Sea salt can be
unprocessed and delivers
a plethora of minerals from
1 | Sea Salt water from an holds a brighter and
ocean. Itis one | cleaner favour than table
of the oldest salt as it does not contain he | 7 :
methods of bitter iodine and it tastes ‘ i canal aries Twas:
conciliating great with steaks. elated
Salt.Lear UNE Online
Himalayan Salt
arrives from the
world's oldest
salt mine, which
is located in
et It holds a more subtle It has around 84 different
Ea 2) The _|*@stewhen compared to | minerals, including iron,
Himalayan | a sea Salt. It tastes great sodium, phosphorus and
pink color of i
Salt with delicate dishes with | magnesium. It does not
Himalayan Salt
-, fish, poultry and contain iodine that is
is defined to 7
vegetables. difficult to digest.
come from the
remains of sea
life, which
existed in an
evaporated
‘ocean.
It looks like a
rock salt made Black Salt contains a It has 3% of iron and is
out of South used for
Indian savoury taste which is the
Asian anemiatreatments. Studies
Black Salt : same as an egg yolk. It
condiments. have linked daily
(Kala mixes well with chutneys,
The magical : consumption of Black Salt
Namak) yogurts and cooling :
black colour . with constipation
drinks.
comes from the reduction.
iron sulphideVedaniti,
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Coconut
aminos Is a
condiment that
is similar to
soya sauce. It is
made out of the
Coconut | coconut
aminos _ | blossom by
tapping the
unopened
flowers and
fermenting
them with a bit
of added Salt.
Dark, sweet and salty. It
has umami qualities.
Used in fish marinades
and sauces, it goes well
with Japanese cuisine.
It is packed with 17
different amino acids,
potassium vitamins - C &
Tamari is the
other soya
sauce
substitute. It
can be pressed
from the liquid _| "cher and less salty flavor | \t contains different
Tamari contains a much
which is drained | Compared to the soya vitamins - B2, B3, B6, and
from the sauce. It is packed with minerals as well:
fermented umami and is used to add | phosphorus, iron and
‘meatiness' to all the
5 Taman | sevbeans. manganese. Due to the
Tamari has vegetarian dishes. It content of nutrients also
much fewer _| tastes great in stir-fries, | present in the fermented
ingredients marinades and Asian foods (oligosaccharides
comparedto _| Sauces and onits own as J and peptides), it helps for
the soya sauce | @ dipping sauce. good digestion
(it does not
contain wheat)
and itis a less
processed
condiment.Vedaniti,
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Nutritional
Yeast
Itis prepared
with
‘Saccharomyces
cerevisiae’
baking yeast.
The nutritional
yeast is
deactivated by
the heating and
drying process,
followed by it
Kelp is given as
a large and
brown type of
seaweed, which
Ithhas a cheesy, nutty and
salty/umami flavor, which
is similar to Parmesan
cheese.
It contains a natural sea-
salty, umami and savoury
flavor. It could also be
used as a meat
It is a good vitamin source
with the vitamins - B1, B2,
B3, zinc and potassium.
Mostly the nutritional yeast
is additionally fortified with
folate and vitamin B12.
A natural source of iodine,
Vitamin A (eye vitamin)
and Vitamin K1,
magnesium, folate,
caloium and iron. Kelp has
7 | kelp grows in substitute. It is great in | been linked to several
shallow, salty | Asian cuisine, whichis _| health benefits due to its,
seawater added to soups and weight-loss, disease-
across the blended into smoothies. _| fighting and anemia-
world. preventing properties.
Complex Salt
+ The simple Salt, which it is formed from, may or may not be in equimolar proportions
+ It exists in the solid-state and in an aqueous solution as well. This is due to the reason,
even in the solution, the complex ion does not dissociate into the ions.
+ A coordination compound will retain its identity in the aqueous solution.
+ It may or may not be ionic. However, the complex part always contains coordinate bonds.
+ In a coordination compound, the metal ion satisfies its two types of valencies, which are
the primary and secondary valencies.
+ For example, here, the K,|NiCl,] complex is always enclosed in square braskets.Lear UNE Online
Applications of Mohr's Salt
In the field of analytical chemistry, Mohr's Salt is defined as one of the most preferred
compounds, which acts as a source of Fe2* ions (or as ferrous ions). The advantage of using
Mohr's Salt as a source of ferrous ions is that it contains a relatively long shelf life and is also
resistant to oxidation due to atmospheric exposure.
The oxidation of this compound is well-known to take place relatively quickly when the pH of
the environment is high (the medium is somewhat basic). And, it is most important to note that,
usually, the solutions of the Mohr's Salt are slightly acidic, where it can be explained by the
presence of ammonium cations in them. Also, It can be noted that sulfuric acid can be added to
Mohr's Salt's solutions in order to prevent the oxidation of the ferrous ion to the ferric ion. The
other important application of Mohr's Salt in Fricke's dosimetre is, it helps to measure high
doses of gamma radiation
Conclusion
Ferrous ammonium sulphate is the chemical term for Mohr's salt. Mohr's salt is made by
combining equimolar amounts of ferrous sulphate and ammonium sulphate. The preparation of
mohr's salt is based on the principle of crystallisation. Because it helps prevent salt hydrolysis,
the preparation must be done in the presence of dilute sulphuric acid
Color, shape, litmus, and solubility can all be used to determine that the crystals are those of
mohr's salt. Mohr's salt crystals are light green in hue and octahedral in shape. Mohr's solution
changes the colour of blue litmus paper to red. Mohr's salt crystals are easily soluble in water.Vedaniti,
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