Iron(III) Hydrolysis and Solubility at 25 °C

UV-vis spectrophotometric measurements, potentiometric titrations, and solubility measurements were performed to evaluate the hydrolysis constants for aqueous Fe(III) and the solubility of 2-line ferrihydrite over a wide concentration range (0-3 M NaClO4 and p[H+] 1.54-11.23). From these measurements, Fe3+ was found to hydrolyze to form FeOH2+, Fe2(OH)24+, Fe(OH)2+, Fe(OH)3(0), and Fe(OH)4-. The hydrolysis and solubility constants of these species were determined together with their dependence on ionic strength. The iron (III) hydrolysis constants at infinity dilution were (logbeta(1,1) to logbeta(1,4) and logbeta(2,2))-2.19 +/- 0.02, -5.76 +/- 0.06, -14.30 +/- 0.32, -21.71 +/- 0.24, and -2.92 +/- 0.02, respectively. The solubility product for 2-line ferrihydrite was (logK(s,0)) +3.50 +/- 0.20. The results have been compared with literature values.