Ferrous sulfate solution

Ferrous sulfate is a blue-green crystal with no odor. It weathers in dry air. Ferrous sulfate solution is brown alkaline ferric sulfate, which is a tetrahydrate. Monohydrate will appear at 65 degrees. Ferrous sulfate is soluble in water but not in ethanol. It has many functions and uses. For example, it is often used in the pharmaceutical industry to treat iron deficiency anemia. Let's learn more about this aspect below.

Function and use

Ferrous sulfate can be used to make iron salts, iron oxide pigments, mordants, water purifiers, preservatives, disinfectants, etc.

1. Water treatment

Ferrous sulfate is used for water flocculation purification and for removing phosphates from urban and industrial sewage to prevent eutrophication of water bodies.

2. Reducing agent

Large amounts of ferrous sulfate are used as a reducing agent, primarily to reduce chromates in cement.

3. Medicinal

Ferrous sulfate is used to treat iron deficiency anemia; it is also used to add iron to food. Long-term excessive use may cause side effects such as abdominal pain and nausea.

In medicine, it can also be used as a local astringent and blood tonic, and can be used for chronic blood loss caused by uterine fibroids.

4. Colorants

a. Ferrous sulfate is required for the production of iron tannate ink and other inks. Ferrous sulfate is also found in mordants for wood dyeing.

b. Ferrous sulfate can be used to dye concrete a yellow rust color.

c. Carpenters use ferrous sulfate to give maple wood a silvery tint.

5. Agriculture

It can regulate the pH of the soil and promote the formation of chlorophyll (also known as iron fertilizer), which can prevent and control chlorosis of flowers and trees caused by iron deficiency. It is an indispensable element for acid-loving flowers and trees, especially the cycad. It can also be used as a pesticide in agriculture to prevent and control wheat smut, apple and pear scab, and fruit tree rot; it can also be used as a fertilizer to remove moss and lichens from tree trunks.

6. Analytical Chemistry

Ferrous sulfate can be used as a chromatography reagent.

Laboratory preparation

1. It can be directly prepared by reacting iron powder with dilute sulfuric acid. Fe+H2SO4(dilute)=H2↑+FeSO4

2. It can be obtained by reacting copper sulfate solution with iron. The reaction equation is: CuSO4+Fe=FeSO4+Cu (this reaction type is a replacement reaction)