Iron(III) chloride

Iron(III) chloride (anhydrous) IUPAC name iron(III) chloride Other names iron trichloride molysite Identifiers InChI InChI=1/Fe.3ClH/h;3*1H/q+3;;;/p-3 Standard InChI InChI=1S/Fe.3ClH/h;3*1H/q+3;;;/p-3 CAS number [7705-08-0] EC number 231-729-4 RTECS LJ9100000 Properties Chemical formula FeCl3 Molar mass 162.20 g/mol (anhydrous) Appearance dark brown solid, hygroscopic Density 2.898 g/cm3 Melting point 306 °C Boiling point 315 °C decomp. Solubility in water 74.4 g/100 ml (0 °C) 535.7 g/100 ml (100 °C) Structure Coordination geometry Octahedral (Fe3+) Hazards Material safety data sheet (MSDS) ICSC 1499 EU index number not listed Related compounds Other anions Iron(III) fluoride Iron(III) bromide Other cations Iron(II) chloride Ruthenium(III) chloride Osmium(III) chloride Other Lewis acids Aluminium chloride Boron trifluoride Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa)

Iron(III) chloride, FeCl₃, also known as ferric chloride, is commodity chemical. As the hydrated salt (nominally a hexahydrate, FeCl₃·6H₂O), it is used in water purification and as an etchant for printed circuit boards. The anhydrous compound is a moderately strong Lewis acid and is used in organic synthesis.