Ferrous chloride

Synonyms

Ferro 66; Ferrous dichloride; Iron chloride (FeCl2); Iron dichloride; Iron protochloride; Iron(2+) chloride; Iron(II) chloride; Natural lawrencite; Ferrous chloride, solid; Ferrous chloride, solution; [ChemIDplus] UN1759; UN1760 (solution)

Category

Metals, Inorganic Compounds

Description

White to white-green crystals; [NIOSH] Highly hygroscopic white solid (may have a green tint); Soluble in water; [Merck Index] Light green odorless solid; [CHRIS] Off-white odorless powder; [Alfa Aesar MSDS]

Sources/Uses

Used as a reducing agent, a mordant in textile dyeing, a sludge dewatering agent in sewage treatment, in metallurgy, as a hot bath in iron plating, and to make pharmaceuticals and ferric chloride; [HSDB] Found in nature as the mineral lawrencite; [Merck Index]

Comments

Toxic by ingestion: 10 tablets (0.3 g Fe/tablet) causes mild illness in children; 20 tablets cause severe intoxication; Mortality rate was 1% in 474 acute iron poisoning cases; [ACGIH] Corrosive to skin; [Quick CPC] An irritant that may cause liver injury; [Merck Index] A skin, eye, nose, and throat irritant; [CHRIS] Causes burns; Harmful by ingestion; [Alfa Aesar MSDS] See "Iron salts, soluble."

Biomedical References

Insufficient data

1 mg/m3, as Fe (soluble iron salts)

Explanatory Notes

TLV is for "Iron salts, soluble"; [ACGIH] Melting point = 674 degrees C; [HSDB] The Guide in the Emergency Response Guidebook is for "Ferrous chloride, solid."

Hepatoxic (a) from occupational exposure (secondary effect) or (b) in animal studies or in humans after ingestion

Skin burns

Processes

Industrial Processes with risk of exposure:

• Applying Wood Preservatives
• Farming (Pesticides)
• Metal Extraction and Refining
• Painting (Pigments, Binders, and Biocides)
• Sewer and Wastewater Treatment
• Textiles (Printing, Dyeing, or Finishing)