The specific gravity of ferric chloride solution, as per chemical analysis, is 1.48 – 1.53 at 25 °C.
Ferric chloride (FeCl3) is a deep-brown liquid commonly used in various industrial applications, particularly in water and wastewater treatment, as a flocculant and coagulant. Understanding its specific gravity is crucial for quality control, concentration determination, and proper handling.
Understanding Specific Gravity
Specific gravity is a dimensionless quantity that represents the ratio of the density of a substance to the density of a reference substance. For liquids, the reference substance is typically water at a specified temperature (often 4 °C or 25 °C). A specific gravity greater than 1 indicates that the substance is denser than water.
In the context of ferric chloride solution, the specific gravity value of 1.48 – 1.53 at 25 °C indicates that the solution is significantly denser than water, which has a specific gravity of 1.0 at 4 °C (and approximately 0.997 at 25 °C). This range provides a key indicator of the solution's concentration and purity.
Key Characteristics of Ferric Chloride Solution
Based on the provided chemical analysis, here's a summary of the typical characteristics of the ferric chloride solution:
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Appearance | Deep-brown liquid |
| Ferric Chloride (FeCl3) | 46 ± 1 % |
| Specific Gravity | 1.48 – 1.53 at 25 °C |
| Total Iron (Fe) | 13.1 – 16.2 % |
| Ferrous (Fe 2+) in total iron | 2.5 % max. |
Importance of Specific Gravity in Applications
- Quality Control: The specific gravity range serves as a fundamental parameter for assessing the quality and consistency of commercial ferric chloride solutions. Deviations from this range might indicate incorrect concentration or the presence of impurities.
- Concentration Verification: For solutions like ferric chloride, specific gravity is often directly correlated with the concentration of the dissolved solute. Manufacturers and users can use this property to verify the strength of the purchased or produced solution. For instance, a solution within the 1.48-1.53 range at 25 °C confirms a FeCl3 concentration around 46 ± 1%.
- Storage and Handling: Knowing the specific gravity helps in calculating the weight of a given volume of solution, which is important for storage tank design, transportation logistics, and precise dosing in applications such as municipal wastewater treatment plants or industrial processing.
