ferric chloride

American  

noun

Chemistry.

1. a compound that in its anhydrous form, FeCl 3 , occurs as a black-brown, water-soluble solid; in its hydrated form, FeCl 3 ⋅xH 2 O, it occurs in orange-yellow, deliquescent crystals: used chiefly in engraving, for deodorizing sewage, as a mordant, and in medicine as an astringent and styptic.

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Etymology

Origin of ferric chloride

First recorded in 1890–95

Example Sentences

First comes a "scrubbing" with ferric chloride and other chemicals; then the heavier particles of dirt are allowed to settle to the bottom of tanks while the lighter ones are removed by filtering.

From Time Magazine Archive

The caustic which Dr. Cutler prefers is a "modified Carnoy's solution": absolute alcohol 6 c. c., chloroform 3 c. c., glacial acetic acid i c.c., ferric chloride 1 gm.

From Time Magazine Archive

Ore is dissolved in hydrochloric acid; the iron oxide dissolves to become ferric chloride; and when an electric current passes through the solution, the positively charged iron atoms migrate to the negative electrode.

From Time Magazine Archive

With ferric chloride it gives a violet coloration, and with bromine water a white precipitate of tribrom-phenol.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 5, Slice 3 "Capefigue" to "Carneades" by Various

C. It is soluble in water, and the aqueous solution gives a blue coloration with ferric chloride.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 7, Slice 6 "Coucy-le-Château" to "Crocodile" by Various