Ferric Hydroxide Solution: Preparation of Lyophobic Solution

Ferric Oxide is a transition chemical compound of iron, oxygen, and hydrogen.

• It is also known as Iron (III) trihydrate.
• The Chemical Formula of Ferric hydroxide is (Fe(OH)₃).
• Molecular weight is 109.
• Ferric hydroxide is used to form a lyophobic solution.

In this article, we will be discussing the step-by-step procedure to perform an experiment that will help the student learn how to prepare ferric hydroxide sol. Carefully go through the content to understand the aim, procedure, and materials required to perform the experiment and try to perform the experiment and match your result with this.

Key Terms: Lyophobic sol, Hydroxide sol, Chemical formula, Preparation of ferric hydroxide sol, Lyophobic colloids, Hydrochloric acid, Ferric hydroxide.

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Aim of the Experiment of Lyophobic Sol 

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The aim of this experiment is: To prepare Ferric hydroxide sol.

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Theory 

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Lyophobic colloids are liquid-hating colloids, which means solvent, and phobic means hating.

• When colloids are mixed with a liquid, a very weak force of attraction exists between colloidal particles and liquid and the system does not pass into a colloidal state readily.
• Lyophobic colloids are called compounds of metal hydroxides or sulfides that are insoluble and do not readily have colloidal solutions for treatment with water. Lyo sols are irreversible.
• Ferric hydroxide sol is prepared with boiling distilled water by hydrolysis of ferric chloride.

FeCl₃(aq) + 3H₂O(l) → Fe(OH)₃(s) + 3HCl(aq)

Hydrolysis of the Ferric Chloride (FeCl₃) reaction forms insoluble particles of ferric hydroxide (Fe(OH)₃) and HCl, which accumulate and form Lyophobic colloidal sol.

HCl is removed during the hydrolysis of ferric hydroxide sol. It is removed by the process of dialysis.

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Material Required

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The materials that are required for this experiment are

• Solution of ferric chloride
• Glass rod
• Round bottom flask
• Boiling tube
• Tripod Stand
• Funnel
• Borosil Glassware - Conical flask of 250 mL volume
• Glass Beaker of 250 mL volume
• Burette
• Wire gauze
• Dropper
• Burner
• Wire gauze
• Iron stand with clamp
• Boiling tube
• Distilled water

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Procedure

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The following are the procedures to perform the experiment

• Take a steam-cleaned conical flask of volume 250 mL
• Prepare 2% solution of ferric chloride by adding 2 g of pure ferric chloride in 100 mL of distilled water.
• Take a clean conical flask and add 100mL of distilled water.
• Use the water bath to boil distilled water.
• Take off the flask from the water bath.
• Using a dropper pour a droplet of ferric chloride 10 mL solution.
• Put the partially mixed solution in a water bath.
• Constantly stir the boiling water mixture while adding ferric chloride solution.
• Heat the conical flask containing a mixture of distilled water and ferric chloride solution
• A color change of brown or deep red colored ferric hydroxide solution will appear.
• Allow the mixture in the conical flask to settle at room temperature.
• Label the flask containing the mixture as ferric hydroxide sol.

Experimental Setup

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Conclusion

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The change in color indicates the formation of a lyophobic sol of Ferric hydroxide.

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Precaution

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The following are the precautions to be taken during the experiment:

• Fe(OH)₃ sol gets affected due to the presence of impurities. Use the steam process to clean the conical flask.
• The FeCl₃ solution in droplets.
• Heat the mixture of distilled water and ferric chloride solution until a brown or deep red color is obtained.
• Be cautious when removing hydrochloric acid (HCl) formed from the flask, during the process of dialysis.
• Removal of HCL also prevents the destabilization of sol.

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Applications of Ferric Hydroxide

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The applications of Ferric Hydroxide are

• Ferric hydroxide is used as an iron supplement in the treatment and prevention of iron deficiency, anemia.
• In the construction sector, ferrous hydroxide products like yellow iron oxide/iron (III) oxide hydroxide are often used to make concrete goods including bricks, blocks, ornamental concrete, paving stones, ready-mixed concrete, and roofing tiles.

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Things to Remember

• Lyophobic sols are those sols in which the particles of the dispersed phase have little affinity for the particles of the dispersion medium. 
• Ferric hydroxide sol is prepared with boiling distilled water by hydrolysis of ferric chloride. 
• The change in color indicates the formation of a lyophobic sol of Ferric hydroxide.
• 2% solution of ferric chloride and of pure ferric chloride.
• A lyophobic sol can be formed by ferric hydroxide.
• Lyophobic colloids are known as compounds such as metal hydroxides or sulfides that are insoluble and do not readily have colloidal solutions for treatment with water. 
• Ferric hydroxide sol can be formed with boiling distilled water by hydrolysis of ferric chloride.

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