Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Study of Ferric Hydroxide Complexation

Ultraviolet absorbance spectra of ferric ions in 0.68m NaClO4 were studied as a function of pH at 4.0, 14.9, and 25.0°C. The results provided an evaluation of the stability constant for the formation of FeOH2+ which is *β1=[FeOH +][H +]/[Fe 3+]. The enthalpy change for the reaction Fe3++H2O⇌ FeOH2++H+ was calculated as 10.0±0.3 kcal-mole−1. Increasing temperature was also found to promote the reaction Fe3++2H2O⇌ Fe(OH) +2 +2H+. Our results were combined with the results of other to produce an expression describing the first hydrolysis equilibrium at ionic strengths between 0 and 3m and temperatures between 4.0 and 45.0°C at 1 atm total pressure. At 25°C and 0.68m the ionic strength *β1=1.90×10-