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In chemistry, iron(II) refers to the element iron in its +2 oxidation state. The adjective ferrous or the prefix ferro- is often used to specify such compounds, as in ferrous chloride for iron(II) chloride (FeCl₂). The adjective ferric is used instead for iron(III) salts, containing the cation Fe. The word ferrous is derived from the Latin word ferrum, meaning "iron".

In ionic compounds (salts), such an atom may occur as a separate cation (positive ion) abbreviated as Fe, although more precise descriptions include other ligands such as water and halides. Iron(III) centres occur in coordination complexes, such as in the anion ferrocyanide, [Fe(CN)₆], where six cyanide ligands are bound the metal centre; or, in organometallic compounds, such as the ferrocene [Fe(C₂H₅)₂], where two cyclopentadienyl anions are bound to the Fe centre.

Iron(III) in biology

All known forms of life require iron. Many proteins in living beings contain iron(III) centers. Examples of such metalloproteins include hemoglobin, ferredoxin, and the cytochromes. In many of these proteins, Fe(II) converts reversibly to Fe(III)

Insufficient iron in the human diet causes anemia. Animals and humans can obtain the necessary iron from foods that contain it in assimilable form, such as meat. Other organisms must obtain their iron from the environment. However, iron tends to form highly insoluble iron(III) oxides/hydroxides in aerobic (oxygenated) environment, especially in calcareous soils. Bacteria and grasses can thrive in such environments by secreting compounds called siderophores that form soluble complexes with iron(III), that can be reabsorbed into the cell. (The other plants instead encourage the growth around their roots of certain bacteria that reduce iron(III) to the more soluble iron(II).)

In contrast to iron(III) aquo complexes, iron(II) aquo complexes are soluble in water near neutral pH. Ferrous is however oxidized by the oxygen in air, converting to iron(III).

Iron(II) salts and complexes

Typically iron(II) salts, like the "chloride" are aquo complexes with the formulas {{chem2|(2+), as found in ferrous ammonium sulfate.

The aquo ligands on iron(II) complexes are labile. It reacts with 1,10-phenanthroline to give the blue iron(II) derivative:

When metallic iron (oxidation state 0) is placed in a solution of hydrochloric acid, iron(II) chloride is formed, with release of hydrogen gas, by the reaction

Fe + 2 H → Fe + H₂

Iron(II) minerals and other solids

Iron(II) is found in many minerals and solids. Examples include the sulfide and oxide, FeS and FeO. These formulas are deceptively simple because these sulfides and oxides are often nonstoichiometric. For example, "ferrous sulfide" can refer to the 1:1 species (mineral name troilite) or a host of Fe-deficient derivatives (pyrotite).

Bonding

Iron(II) is a d center, meaning that the metal has six "valence" electrons in the 3d orbital shell. The number and type of ligands bound to iron(II) determine how these electrons arrange themselves. With so-called "strong field ligands" such as cyanide, the six electrons pair up. Thus ferrocyanide ([Fe(CN)₆] has no unpaired electrons. It is low-spin. With so-called "weak field ligands" such as water, the four of the six electrons are unpaired. Thus aquo complex ([Fe(H₂O)₆] is paramagnetic. It is high-spin. With chloride, iron(III) forms tetrahedral complexes, e.g. ([Fe(Cl)₄]. Tetrahedral complexes are high spin.

See also

• Ferric chloride – Inorganic compoundPages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets (Iron(III) chloride)
• Ferric oxide – Chemical compoundPages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets (Iron(III) oxide)
• Ferric fluoride – chemical compoundPages displaying wikidata descriptions as a fallback (Iron(III) fluoride)
• Ferrous – The element iron in its +2 oxidation state

References

1. "Iron integral to the development of life on Earth – and the possibility of life on other planets". University of Oxford. 7 December 2021. Retrieved 9 May 2022.
2. Berg, Jeremy Mark; Lippard, Stephen J. (1994). Principles of bioinorganic chemistry. Sausalito, Calif: University Science Books. ISBN 0-935702-73-3.
3. H. Marschner and V. Römheld (1994): "Strategies of plants for acquisition of iron". Plant and Soil, volume 165, issue 2, pages 261–274. doi:10.1007/BF00008069
4. Earnshaw, A.; Greenwood, N. N. (1997). Chemistry of the elements (2nd ed.). Oxford: Butterworth-Heinemann. ISBN 0-7506-3365-4.

• Iron(II) compounds
• Chemical compounds by element