Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

Firstly, what are ferrous ions? I've heard of them before and kind of know what they're about, but not really.
Secondly, how would they be produced from dilute acid and iron?
Thirdly, in reducing nitrobenzene to aniline, how are they oxidised from Fe2+ to Fe3+?

We've never covered Ferrous ions before and now it suddenly pops up in our prac questions, which we need to hand in on Tuesday. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Hi,

As you have just recently discovered iron has two common oxidation states, ferrous(+2) and ferric(+3). There is quite a rich variety of chemistry involved in these two states and the conversions between them.

Here is a brief sampling about them. For more, see almost any good inorganic chemistry text.

http://www.amrclearinghouse.org/Sub/AMD ... icIron.htm

http://www.uvm.edu/~gdrusche/Fe2+%20oxi ... etics.html

http://www.newton.dep.anl.gov/askasci/c ... m00149.htm

http://wwwchem.uwimona.edu.jm/courses/iron.html

http://www.chemistrydaily.com/chemistry/Iron

As to reducing nitrobenzene to aniline using iron see the following:
http://books.google.com/books?id=KxlJAA ... #PPA260,M1


Best regards,

Barrett Tomlinson