Written by the Fiveable Content Team โข Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 examโขWritten by the Fiveable Content Team โข Last updated September 2025
Definition
Iron(III) chloride, also known as ferric chloride, is a chemical compound with the formula FeCl3. It is commonly used as a reagent for various purposes such as etching copper circuits, purifying water, and treating sewage.
Related terms
Transition Metal Salt: Iron(III) chloride belongs to the category of transition metal salts which are compounds formed from transition metals combined with other elements or compounds.
Lewis Acid: Iron(III) chloride acts as a Lewis acid because it can accept electron pairs from other molecules during chemical reactions.
Iron(III) chloride can participate in oxidation-reduction reactions where it undergoes a change in its oxidation state by either gaining or losing electrons.