Ammonium iron(III) sulfate

Ammonium iron(III) sulfate
Names
IUPAC name
Ammonium iron(III) sulfate
Other names
Ferric ammonium sulfate
Ferric alum
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
ChemSpider
ECHA InfoCard 100.030.335 Edit this at Wikidata
EC Number
  • anhydride: 233-382-4
UNII
  • InChI=1S/Fe.H3N.2H2O4S/c;;2*1-5(2,3)4/h;1H3;2*(H2,1,2,3,4)/q+3;;;/p-3 checkY
    Key: XGGLLRJQCZROSE-UHFFFAOYSA-K checkY
  • anhydride: InChI=1/Fe.H3N.2H2O4S/c;;2*1-5(2,3)4/h;1H3;2*(H2,1,2,3,4)/q+3;;;/p-3
    Key: XGGLLRJQCZROSE-DFZHHIFOAY
  • anhydride: [Fe+3].[O-]S(=O)(=O)[O-].[O-]S([O-])(=O)=O.[NH4+]
Properties
FeNH4(SO4)2•12H2O
Molar mass 482.25 g/mol (dodecahydrate)
Appearance Pale violet octahedral crystals
Odor weak ammonia-like
Density 1.71 g/cm3
Melting point 39 to 41 °C (102 to 106 °F; 312 to 314 K)
1240 g/L
Hazards
Occupational safety and health (OHS/OSH):
Main hazards
Irritant
NFPA 704 (fire diamond)
Related compounds
Other anions
Ammonium iron(III) citrate
Ammonium chloride
Other cations
Ammonium aluminium sulfate
potassium aluminium sulfate
Related compounds
Ammonium iron(II) sulfate
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
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Ammonium iron(III) sulfate, NH4Fe(SO4)2·12 H2O, or NH4[Fe(H2O)6](SO4)2·6 H2O, also known as ferric ammonium sulfate (FAS) or iron alum, is a double salt in the class of alums, which consists of compounds with the general formula AB(SO4)2 · 12 H2O.[2] It has the appearance of weakly violet, octahedrical crystals. There has been some discussion regarding the origin of the crystals' color, with some ascribing it to impurities in the compound,[3] and others claiming it to be a property of the crystal itself.[4]

FAS is paramagnetic,[5] acidic and toxic towards microorganisms.[6] It is a weak oxidizing agent, capable of being reduced to Mohr's salt, ferrous ammonium sulfate.

  1. ^ "Material Safety Data Sheet. Iron (III) Ammonium Sulfate Dodecahydrate". fscimage.fishersci.com. Retrieved 8 June 2023.
  2. ^ Considine, Douglas M: Chemical and process technology encyclopedia, McGraw-Hill, New York, 1974, p. 993
  3. ^ Christensen, Odin T. "On the Cause of the Amethyst Color of Ferric Alum and of Mixed Crystals of Ferric and Manganic Alum". Chem. Lab. Roy. Vet. Agr. Hochschule, KGL. Danske Vidsk. Selsk. Forh. 1906: 173–95.
  4. ^ Bonnell, Jane; Philip Perman, Edgar (1921). "CCXXIX.—The colour of iron alum". J. Chem. Soc., Trans. 119: 1994–1997. doi:10.1039/CT9211901994.
  5. ^ Cooke, Meyer; Wolf (1956). "The Specific Heats of Three Paramagnetic salts at Very Low Temperatures". Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Series A, Mathematical and Physical Sciences. 237 (1210): 395–403. Bibcode:1956RSPSA.237..395C. doi:10.1098/rspa.1956.0185. S2CID 97076961.
  6. ^ Wang, Fei; et al. (2008). "Microcalorimetric investigation of the toxic action of ammonium ferric(III)sulfate on the metabolic activity of pure microbes". Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology. 25 (3): 351–357. Bibcode:2008EnvTP..25..351W. doi:10.1016/j.etap.2007.11.004. PMID 21783873.