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Chemical Name: Iron(II) Chloride Tetrahydrate
Formula: FeCl2·4H2O
Appearance: Pale green crystalline solid, slightly slippery to the touch, with a sharp metallic odor if present in concentrated form.
Common Use: Used in laboratories, wastewater treatment, dye production, and as a reducing agent in chemical processes.
Main Hazards: Direct contact causes irritation in skin and eyes. Inhalation of dust or spray mist may sting the respiratory tract. Swallowing brings rapid stomach upset, nausea, and in some cases, vomiting.
Risk Phrases: Irritating to eyes, skin, and mucous membranes. Harmful if swallowed. Prolonged exposure may stain skin; iron salts can enter bloodstream by breaking through cuts.
Physical Hazards: Becomes slippery when wet, increasing risk of slips in handling areas.
Main Ingredient: Iron(II) Chloride Tetrahydrate, percentage about 98-100% in commercial samples.
Impurities: Small traces of iron(III) chloride, possible trace acids from manufacturing.
CAS Number: 13478-10-9
Eye Contact: Wash gently but thoroughly with cool running water for at least ten minutes. Use eye washes at stations right in the lab or facility. Seek medical checks if pain or redness lingers.
Skin Contact: Remove tainted clothing. Flush with soap and lots of water. Any cuts should be cleaned right away to block iron salts from entering your bloodstream.
Inhalation: Go to fresh air. If coughs or irritation persist, get checked at a clinic.
Swallowing: Rinse the mouth fully and look for danger signs like vomiting, cramps, or blue lips. Go to a professional for further checks because iron ingestion harms internal organs quickly.
Suitable Extinguishing Media: Water spray, foam, or dry chemical works in fires, but avoid strong water jets since this salt dissolves and flows fast.
Incompatibilities: Do not mix with metals, oxidizers, or reducing agents in a blaze.
Special Risks: Fire breaks iron salts down to irritating, toxic fumes including hydrochloric acid gas and iron oxides.
Protective Gear: Wear full gear and breathing masks since toxic smoke will hang in the air.
Clean-Up: Get rid of all ignition sources. Scoop solids into containers quickly, or if in solution, mop up with inert materials like sand. Douse with lots of water after bulk collection. Avoid letting dust float in air.
Personal Precaution: Put on gloves, goggles, and basic lab clothing. Keep people who are not involved away from the zone.
Environmental Precaution: Keep iron and chloride out of public drains and open waters; both burden aquatic life if careless spill management lets them get free.
Handling: Work only in well-ventilated areas with eye washing stations nearby. Always avoid splashing and do not touch face, food, or skin with soiled hands.
Storage: Keep sealed in moisture-tight containers. Place away from acids, oxidizers, and sources of moisture. Avoid heat sources and direct sun to slow breakdown over time.
Technical Controls: Use fume hoods or exhaust fans to vent out dust or mist. Balance humidity and temperature in rooms.
Personal Protection: Safety goggles and chemical-resistant gloves are not for show. A long lab coat and close-toed shoes defend against splashes and stains. Dust masks recommended in spill cleanup or open transfers.
Monitor Health: If handling chemicals for stretches, get blood checks for iron levels every few months.
State: Tetrahydrate form stays as pale green crystals, easily absorbs water from air.
Solubility: Dissolves fast in cool water, giving off heat and turning solutions yellow-green.
Boiling Point: Loses water of hydration way before boiling. If heated in air, it decomposes above 677°C.
Odor: Faint metallic, especially from damp surfaces.
Other Properties: Solid cakes together if left out in the open, losing some water to form iron(II) chloride dihydrate or anhydrous forms.
Stability: Remains steady under sealed, cool storage. Air and moisture drive it to oxidize into brown iron(III) forms.
Dangerous Reactions: Reacts with acids, oxidizers, or reducing agents. Copper, zinc, and other common metals corrode and break down when mixed.
Hazardous Decomposition: Exposed to strong heat, it sends out toxic hydrochloric fumes and corrosive iron oxides.
Acute Effects: Direct skin or eye contact stings on impact and leaves red marks that last hours. Swallowing medium amounts crams the stomach, knocks electrolytes off balance, and if untreated can damage the liver, heart, or kidneys. Larger doses even risk death in children.
Chronic Effects: Long-term exposures to dust or tiny splashes build up iron in organs, leading to discoloration or health issues. Chronic inhalation remains a rare workplace hazard unless large, repeated breaches in protective practice emerge.
Routes of Exposure: Skin, eyes, mouth, and lungs all serve as entry points.
Aquatic Life: Both iron and chloride ions easily alter water chemistry, hurting fish and local water creatures if dumped. Iron causes algae to bloom, which after death starve lakes of oxygen.
Soil and Plants: Iron(II) changes to iron(III) and can clog up soils, blocking roots’ access to vital nutrients. High salt content can dry out topsoil, stunting crops if released in large amounts.
Small Quantities: Dilute with lots of water and send in accordance with local chemical waste rules as iron salts.
Large Quantities: Do not dump in public drains. Bring to permitted hazardous waste treatment stations. Keep strong personal protection during transport.
Containers: Rinse containers before recycling. Avoid sending bulk remains to general trash.
Transport Hazards: Moisture and air speed up decomposition, so double-seal in moisture-safe drums. Mark loads for corrosive chemical content.
Special Precautions: Move early in the day, away from heat waves. Prepare spill kits in vehicles if carrying in bulk.
General Regulation: Iron salts fall under chemical safety directives in most industrialized countries.
Use Limitations: Must not exceed soil or water regulatory discharge thresholds.
Worker Health: Safety data updates required, with extra protective measures detailed for bulk users and lab workers alike.
Labeling: Proper labeling expected on containers, including clear hazard icons for skin and eye risks.
