Formula C36H24FeN62+ | Molar mass 596.27 g/mol | |
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Ferroin is the chemical compound with the formula [Fe(o-phen)3]SO4, where o-phen is an abbreviation for 1,10-phenanthroline, a bidentate ligand. The term "ferroin" is used loosely and includes salts of other anions such as chloride.
Contents
Redox indicator
This coordination compound is used as an indicator in analytical chemistry. The active ingredient is the [Fe(o-phen)3]2+ ion, which is a chromophore that can be oxidized to the ferric derivative [Fe(o-phen)3]3+. The potential for this redox change is +1.06 volts in 1 M H2SO4. It is a popular redox indicator for making oscillatory Belousov–Zhabotinsky reactions visible.
Ferroin is suitable as a redox indicator, as the color change is reversible, very pronounced and rapid, and the ferroin solution is stable up to 60 °C. It is the main indicator used in cerimetry.
Nitroferroin, the complex of iron(II) with 5-nitro-1,10-phenanthroline, has transition potential of +1.25 volts. It is more stable than ferroin, but in sulfuric acid with Ce4+ ion it requires significant excess of the titrant. It is however useful for titration in perchloric acid or nitric acid solution, where cerium redox potential is higher.
The redox potential of the iron-phenanthroline complex can be varied between +0.84 V and +1.10 V by position and number of methyl groups on the phenanthroline core.
Preparation
Ferroin sulfate may be prepared by combining phenanthroline to ferrous sulfate in water.
3 phen + Fe2+ → [Fe(phen)3]2+The iron is low spin and octahedral with D3 symmetry. The intense color of this ferrous complex arises from a metal-to-ligand charge-transfer transition.