Ferric Chloride Hydrolysis
Mediumchemistry
Aqueous FeCl3 solution is acidic due to:
Select the correct option:
Solution
Incorrect! Answer:
Formation of Fe(OH)3 releasing H+
- Cationic Hydrolysis: Fe3+ is a small, highly charged cation with a high charge density.
- Mechanism: It polarizes the coordinated water molecules so strongly that a proton (H+) is released into the solution.
- Equation: [Fe(H2O)6]3++H2O⇌[Fe(H2O)5(OH)]2++H3O+.
- Precipitation: In more concentrated or less acidic solutions, this can proceed further to form insoluble Fe(OH)3 or poly-nuclear species.
- Observation: This release of H+ (or H3O+) makes the solution strongly acidic (pH<7).
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About This Question
- Subject
- chemistry
- Chapter
- d- and f-block elements
- Topic
- ferric chloride hydrolysis
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Year
- 2025
Solution
Correct Answer:
Formation of Fe(OH)3 releasing H+
- Cationic Hydrolysis: Fe3+ is a small, highly charged cation with a high charge density.
- Mechanism: It polarizes the coordinated water molecules so strongly that a proton (H+) is released into the solution.
- Equation: [Fe(H2O)6]3++H2O⇌[Fe(H2O)5(OH)]2++H3O+.
- Precipitation: In more concentrated or less acidic solutions, this can proceed further to form insoluble Fe(OH)3 or poly-nuclear species.
- Observation: This release of H+ (or H3O+) makes the solution strongly acidic (pH<7).
This medium difficulty chemistry question is from the chapter d- and f-block elements, covering the topic of ferric chloride hydrolysis. It appeared in the 2025 exam.
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