- #1
- 877
- 1
I have/had a solution of Iron (III) Chloride. I wanted to extract the Iron Chloride out of solution, so I decided to evaporate all the water off and just collect the crystals that form, right? Wrong, appearently, it is very hygroscopic making it some what difficult to actually dry it. I have gotten it to a thick, dark brown, "muddy" lucking substance, but it won't dry any further. I am attempting to evaportate off the water in the hot summer sun, but after about a week at this same stage, it hasnt changed.
Is there another way of de-hydrating, this substance that seems to just love water?
I can't really heat it very much (using an oven or flame) because, for one, I have it in a plastic container because Iron Chloride acts like an acid on metals, so I don't want to melt the container, and two, I think that the Iron Chloride melts and deomposes at a very low temperature, so I don't want to alter the substance either.
I suppose, in theory, if I could put it in a container that is air tight, the lower the pressure sugnificantly, I could lower the boiling point of water and pump the steam out. But this is a little to much in the way of building something than I had intended. Is there an easy chemical way?
Once I get it dried out, all I need to do is make sure I keep it in a sealed container, so as not to let any more water get to it.
Is there another way of de-hydrating, this substance that seems to just love water?
I can't really heat it very much (using an oven or flame) because, for one, I have it in a plastic container because Iron Chloride acts like an acid on metals, so I don't want to melt the container, and two, I think that the Iron Chloride melts and deomposes at a very low temperature, so I don't want to alter the substance either.
I suppose, in theory, if I could put it in a container that is air tight, the lower the pressure sugnificantly, I could lower the boiling point of water and pump the steam out. But this is a little to much in the way of building something than I had intended. Is there an easy chemical way?
Once I get it dried out, all I need to do is make sure I keep it in a sealed container, so as not to let any more water get to it.