What is ferrous sulfate

Sulfuric acid and iron are two things we can actually see in our daily lives. Sulfuric acid is an extremely corrosive chemical substance, while iron is relatively common. Iron is present in the food we consume every day, and there are iron molecules in our human body. Iron and sulfuric acid can also form another high molecular substance, which is ferrous sulfate. So, what is ferrous sulfate?

Blue-green monoclinic crystals or granules, odorless. It weathers in dry air and oxidizes on the surface into brown alkaline ferric sulfate in humid air. It becomes a tetrahydrate at 56.6°C and a monohydrate at 65°C. Soluble in water, almost insoluble in ethanol. Its aqueous solution oxidizes slowly in the air when it is cold and oxidizes faster when it is hot. Adding alkali or exposing it to light can accelerate its oxidation. Relative density (d15) 1.897. Irritating. Anhydrous ferrous sulfate is a white powder, and the crystals containing water of crystallization are light green. The crystals are commonly known as "green vitriol" and are light green when dissolved in water. Ferrous sulfate can be used as a chromatography reagent and spot analysis to determine platinum, selenium, nitrite and nitrate. Ferrous sulfate can also be used as a reducing agent, to make ferrite, for water purification, as a polymerization catalyst, and in photoengraving, etc.

It has restorative properties. It decomposes under high heat and releases toxic gases. In the laboratory, it can be obtained by reacting copper sulfate solution with iron. Will weather in dry air. It is easily oxidized in humid air to form brown-yellow alkaline ferric sulfate which is insoluble in water. 10% aqueous solution is acidic to litmus (Ph value is about 3.7). When heated to 70-73°C, it loses 3 molecules of water, and when heated to 80-123°C, it loses 6 molecules of water, and when heated to above 156°C, it turns into alkaline ferric sulfate.

Health hazards: Irritating to the respiratory tract, inhalation may cause coughing and shortness of breath. Irritating to eyes, skin and mucous membranes. Accidental ingestion can cause weakness, abdominal pain, nausea, bloody stools, lung and liver damage, shock, coma, etc., and in severe cases it can be fatal.

Environmental hazards: Harmful to the environment and may cause water pollution.

Explosion hazard: This product is non-flammable but irritating.

Toxicological data (LD50): (mouse, oral) 1520mG/kG.