Neutral FeCl3 Test Simulator

Neutral FeCl₃ Test

A qualitative test to detect the presence of phenols and differentiate them from alcohols.

1. Setup Experiment

Select Unknown Compound

Phenol (Standard Phenol) Catechol (1,2-Dihydroxybenzene) Acetic Acid (Carboxylic Acid) Ethanol (Aliphatic Alcohol)

2. Observation

Physical State Clear Liquid

Status: Standby.
Select an organic compound. The addition of neutral yellowish Iron(III) Chloride (FeCl₃) will form deeply colored complexes with specific functional groups.

3. Chemical Principles

Phenols: React with Fe³⁺ ions to form colored coordination complexes. The color (violet, green, blue, red) depends on the nature of the phenol.

Mechanism:
Phenols act as ligands, displacing water or chloride ions around the central Iron(III) ion to form a complex.

Note: Aliphatic alcohols do not form stable colored complexes with Fe³⁺.

Visual Key

Clear Aqueous/Organic

Neutral FeCl₃ Reagent

Phenol-Iron Complex

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