What is the difference between ferrous and ferric iron

This gives different chemical properties, differences in acidity , reactivity magnetic properties and, different colours in chemical complexes and solutions.

In the formation of ferrous iron, 3d-electrons remain the same, the resulting ion has all six d-electrons. Ferrous ion is paramagnetic because it has unpaired electrons in the outermost shell. Although, it has an even number of d-electrons , when they fill into five d-orbitals some electrons remain unpaired in the ion. But when it bonds with other ligands, this property can be changed. Ferrous ions are relatively more basic than ferric ions. Ferric iron has 5d-electrons in its outer shell and this electron configuration is relatively stable due to extra stability from half-filled orbitals.

This configuration has more stability than the ferrous ion and also the elemental form. As this configuration satisfies the partial electron filling. Any configuration where the orbitals are fully-filled or half-filled is considered to be higher in stability than the other forms. In the case of ferric ion, each d orbital contains an electron, making it half-filled as d orbitals contain five electrons.

The ferric ion has its d orbitals half-filled in the outer-most shell, making it more stable than other forms of Iron. Ferrous can be formed through the reduction of Ferric ions. Harlon currently works as a quality moderator and content writer for Difference Wiki. He graduated from the University of California in with a degree in Computer Science.

Follow him on Twitter HarlonMoss. Harlon Moss. Updated: June 26, This means that ferric iron needs to share three electrons with an oxygen molecule to make the ion neutral, while ferrous iron only needs two more electrons.

With the addition of oxygen, the ferrous ion can easily become a ferric ion. Iron is one of the most abundant elements on Earth, and is also fairly reactive with acids. When exposed to the air, iron will rust — becoming iron III oxide.