What is the difference between #"Fe"^(2+)#, #"Fe"^(3+)# and #"Fe"# which state are they in respectively?

1 Answer
anor277
May 18, 2018

The difference between #"ferrous"# and #"ferric ions"#, and the parent iron metal?

Explanation:

Clearly ALL three species are in different formal oxidation states, which we conceive on the basis of electron transfer:

#Fe rarr underbrace(Fe^(2+))_"ferrous ion" + 2e^(-)#

#Fe rarr underbrace(Fe^(3+))_"ferric ion" + 3e^(-)#

We don't know their physical states. They may be ions in solution, or salts....#"ferrous chloride"# is #FeCl_2#; #"ferric chloride"# is #FeCl_3#.

What is the oxidation state of iron metal?

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