Inorganic reactions
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When making Mohr's salt in Topic 1, why is sulphuric acid added to the iron in excess? Wouldn't it be better to have excess metal and then filter?
Igloo writes ...
The aim is to minimise the oxidation of iron(II) to iron(III). Under acid conditions iron(II) is more difficult to oxidise in soluiton than it is under neutral or alkaline conditions.
Mohr's salt is itself a useful source of Fe(II) since in the solid state it is much more resistant to oxidation by the air than most iron(II) compounds.
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updated: 03 December 2003
