Ferrous sulfate is an iron salt that is also known as green vitriol. Ferrous Sulfate signifies a variety of salts with the formula FeSO4⋅xH2O. The Other names of Iron(II) sulphate include; Ferrous sulfate, Green vitriol, Iron vitriol, Copperas, Melanterite, Szomolnokite. Blue-green heptahydrate is the most common type of this material. 

Properties of Ferrous Sulphate

The chemical formula of the ferrous sulphate is −FeSO4

Its Molar mass is – 151.908 g/mol.

The density of ferrous sulphate is 2.84g/cm3

Colour/Appearance of ferrous sulphate –

Anhydrous – White crystals

Monohydrate – Yellowish white crystals

Heptahydrate – Bluish-green crystals.

Odour – It is odourless

The Melting point of ferrous sulphate is 56-64℃.

The Boiling point of the ferrous sulphate is >300℃.

It is soluble in water.

Applications of Ferrous Sulfate

1. Ferrous sulfate is mostly useful as a precursor to other iron compounds. It is a reducing agent and is also for the reduction of chromate in cement to a less toxic Cr(III) substance.

2. Ferrous sulfate introduction into the cooling water running through the turbine condenser tubes to create a corrosion-resistant protective layer.

3. It is useful in gold refining for precipitating metallic gold from auric chloride solutions (gold dissolved in solution with aqua regia).

4. It has been in use for the purification of water by flocculation and for the elimination of phosphates in municipal and industrial sewage treatment plants to avoid the eutrophication of water bodies.

5. Useful as a traditional way of treating wood panelling on houses, either individually, dissolved in water or as an element of water-based paint.

6. Green vitriol is also a useful reagent for the detection of mushrooms.

7. It is useful as an iron catalyst element of the Fenton reagent.

8. It’s one of the most necessary ingredients in the ink of iron gall.