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Topic: Why does Fe and Cl2 form FeCl3 instead of FeCl2?  (Read 7986 times)

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Offline Sophia7X

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Why does Fe and Cl2 form FeCl3 instead of FeCl2?
« on: October 17, 2012, 08:24:45 PM »
The oxidation potential for Fe--> Fe+2 is higher than Fe--> Fe+3 so wouldn't forming FeCl2 be more spontaneous than FeCl3?
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Offline renjianan

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Re: Why does Fe and Cl2 form FeCl3 instead of FeCl2?
« Reply #1 on: October 18, 2012, 12:48:06 AM »
Because the ΔH (enthalpy of combustion) of forming FeCl3 is higher than forming FeCl2. It means FeCl3 is more stable in thermodynamic than FeCl2.
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Offline Borek

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Re: Why does Fe and Cl2 form FeCl3 instead of FeCl2?
« Reply #2 on: October 18, 2012, 04:07:23 AM »
Quote from: Sophia7X on October 17, 2012, 08:24:45 PM
The oxidation potential for Fe--> Fe+2 is higher than Fe--> Fe+3 so wouldn't forming FeCl2 be more spontaneous than FeCl3?

As long as FeCl3 formation is "spontaneous enough" it doesn't matter much - reaction won't stop half a way, unless there are serious reasons (like not enough chlorine) to do so.
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