Question

Anhydrous ferric chloride is prepared by

• A. heating hydrated ferric chloride at a high temperature in a stream of air
• B. heating metallic iron in a stream of dry chlorine gas
• C. reaction of ferric oxide with hydrochloric acid
• D. reaction of metallic iron with hydrochloric acid

Answer 1

Answer: (B)

heating metallic iron in a stream of dry chlorine gas

Answer 2

Heating iron in stream of dry chlorine gas gives $FeCl_3$ in anhydrous form. In all other cases (a and c) hydrated $FeCl_3$ is obtained while in (d), $FeCl_2$ is formed.