What is the chemical formula for hydrated ferric sulfate?

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Multiple Choice

What is the chemical formula for hydrated ferric sulfate?

Explanation:
Balancing charges and including hydration tell you how ferric sulfate must be written. Iron in ferric sulfate is in the +3 state, and each sulfate is −2. To get a neutral compound, you need two Fe3+ (total +6) paired with three SO4^2− (total −6), giving Fe2(SO4)3. When water is part of the crystal, you add the waters of hydration after a dot, so the hydrated form is Fe2(SO4)3 · 3 H2O for three water molecules per formula unit. The other possibilities would not balance charges correctly (for example, Fe(SO4)2 would pair Fe2+ with two SO4^2−, which doesn’t neutralize), or would change the stoichiometry in ways that aren’t consistent with ferric sulfate. So the correct hydrated formula is Fe2(SO4)3 · 3 H2O.

Balancing charges and including hydration tell you how ferric sulfate must be written. Iron in ferric sulfate is in the +3 state, and each sulfate is −2. To get a neutral compound, you need two Fe3+ (total +6) paired with three SO4^2− (total −6), giving Fe2(SO4)3. When water is part of the crystal, you add the waters of hydration after a dot, so the hydrated form is Fe2(SO4)3 · 3 H2O for three water molecules per formula unit. The other possibilities would not balance charges correctly (for example, Fe(SO4)2 would pair Fe2+ with two SO4^2−, which doesn’t neutralize), or would change the stoichiometry in ways that aren’t consistent with ferric sulfate. So the correct hydrated formula is Fe2(SO4)3 · 3 H2O.

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