ferric chloride made easy ( was [TheForge] Radio Shack Ferric Chloride )

[terry l. ridder]

hello jerry;

ferric chloride is realy simple to make.
i use muratic acid (hydrochloric acid) and
cheap ungalvanized nails. fill a suitable
container preferrably plastic with a hand
full of nails. pour enough hcl to cover the
nails. loosely cover the container. allow
to set overnight keep adding nails till no
more nails will dissolve in the acid. the
brown liquid in the container is a mixture
of ferric chloride and ferrous chloride.
i find it works just as well as the store
brought ferric chloride and is less
expensive.

from an old college chemistry book.

iron(II) chloride a.k.a. ferrous chloride

1. dissovling pure iron in hydrochloric acid
    Fe(s) + 2 HCL(aq) -> FeCl2(aq) + H2(g)

iron(III) chloride a.k.a. ferric chloride

1. dissolving pure iron in a solution of of iron(III) chloride
    Fe(s) + 2 FeCl3(aq) -> 3 FeCl2(aq)

2. dissolving iron ore in hydrochloric acid.
    Fe3O4(s) + 8 HCl(aq) -> FeCl2(aq) + 2 FeCl3(aq) + 4 H20

3. Upgrading the iron(II) chloride with chlorine
    2 FeCl2(aq) + Cl2(g) -> 2 FeCl3(aq)


On Mon, 4 Jun 2007, Jerry Smith wrote:

> Folks,
>
> I have been trying to my local Rat Shack to order some
> of this stuff in for doing Damascus. I was told they
> have these cute little kits for doing PC boards with
> other chemicals in it for $15.95. I said that I need
> the bottles of ferric chloride that they sell, the
> store manager looked this up on their supply website,
> and said the stuff in the old packaging has been
> discontinued. So I had them check with other stores
> and they found 4 bottles for me.
>
>
> Real bummer.
>
> Jerry
>

-- 
terry l. ridder ><>