4057. Ferrous Sulfate

Nomenclature

CAS number: 7720-78-7
Sulfuric acid iron(2+) salt (1:1); iron(2+) sulfate; iron(II) sulfate.
FeO4S; mol wt 151.91.
Fe 36.76%, O 42.13%, S 21.11%.
FeSO4.

Description and references

Hydrates occur in nature as the minerals: melanterite, siderotil, szomolnikite, tauriscite. Heptahydrate prepd commercially by the action of H2SO4 on Fe: Faith, Keyes & Clark's Industrial Chemicals, F. A. Lowenheim, M. K. Moran, Eds. (Wiley-Interscience, New York, 4th ed., 1975) pp 418-421. Crystal structure of heptahydrate: Baur, Acta Crystallogr. 17, 1167 (1964). Acute toxicity: Hoppe et al., Am. J. Med. Sci. 230, 491 (1955).

Derivative

Monohydrate.

Nomenclature

CAS number: 17375-41-6
Dried ferrous sulfate; exsiccated ferrous sulfate; Feromax; Feroritard (Nikken); Ferro-Gradumet (Abbott); Fespan (SK & F); Tetucur (Teikoku Zoki).
FeSO4.H2O; mol wt 169.92.
Fe 32.87%, S 18.87%, O 47.08%, H 1.19%.

Properties

White to yellow cryst powder. Loses H2O at about 300°. Dec at higher temps. Sol in water.

Derivative

Heptahydrate.

Nomenclature

CAS number: 7782-63-0
Copperas; green vitriol; iron vitriol; Feosol (SK & F); Feospan (SK & F); Fesofor (SK & F); Fero-Gradumet (Abbott); Fer-in-Sol (Mead Johnson); Haemofort; Ironate (Wyeth); Mol-Iron (Schering); Presfersul; Sulferrous (Conal).
FeSO4.7H2O; mol wt 278.01.
Fe 20.09%, S 11.53%, O 63.30%, H 5.08%.

Properties

Blue-green, monoclinic, odorless crystals or granules. Efflorescent in dry air; oxidizes in moist air forming a brown coating of basic ferric sulfate. Forms tetrahydrate at 56.6° and monohydrate at 65°. d 1.897. Sol in water. Practically insol in alcohol. Aq solns are oxidized slowly by air when cold, rapidly when hot; rate of oxidation increased by addn of alkali or exposure to light. LD50 in mice: 65 mg/kg i.v.; 1.52 g/kg orally (Hoppe).

Caution

Potential symptoms of overexposure are irritation of eyes, skin, mucous membranes; GI disturbances, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea; dehydration; shock, pallor, cyanosis, coldness; rapid, weak pulse; low blood pressure; rapid, shallow respirations; drowsiness; hyporeflexia; dilated pupils; coma; liver damage. See NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards (DHHS/NIOSH 97-140, 1997) p 174; Clinical Toxicology of Commercial Products, R. E. Gosselin et al., Eds. (Williams & Wilkins, Baltimore, 5th ed., 1984) Sect. III, pp 179-185.

Use

In manufacture of Fe, Fe compds, other sulfates; in Fe electroplating baths; in fertilizer; as food and feed supplement; in radiation dosimeters; as reducing agent in chemical processes; as wood preservative; as weed-killer; in prevention of chlorosis in plants; in other pesticides; in writing ink; in process engraving and lithography; as dye for leather; in etching aluminum; in water treatment; in qualitative analysis (“brown ring” test for nitrates); as polymerization catalyst.

Therapeutic Category

Hematinic.

Therapeutic Category (Veterinary)

In iron deficiency. Astringent.

Keywords

Hematinic