🩸 Fe³⁺ thiocyanate test: virtual chemistry experiment
A drop of thiocyanate turns iron(III) solutions blood red.
▶ Launch this experiment freeRuns in your browser on any phone, tablet or laptop. No sign-up, no install, no chemicals needed.
What you'll do
- Add 1 mL KSCN to the Fe³⁺ tube
- Add KSCN to the Fe²⁺ tube: no red colour
- Add hydrogen peroxide + acid to the Fe²⁺ tube to oxidise it and watch the colour appear
The chemistry behind it
Fe³⁺ + SCN⁻ ⇌ [Fe(SCN)]²⁺ (blood red). Fe²⁺ does not react until oxidised.
Why do this experiment virtually?
Many school labs can't run this experiment safely or don't have the chemicals. In Faradium you set it up in seconds, repeat it as often as you like, change the amounts and see the real result: colours, gases, precipitates and temperature changes. The lab notebook records every observation with the balanced equation for your write-up.
Frequently asked questions
How do you do the fe³⁺ thiocyanate test experiment?
1. Add 1 mL KSCN to the Fe³⁺ tube 2. Add KSCN to the Fe²⁺ tube: no red colour 3. Add hydrogen peroxide + acid to the Fe²⁺ tube to oxidise it and watch the colour appear You can run every step free in the Faradium virtual chemistry lab.
What is the chemistry behind fe³⁺ thiocyanate test?
Fe³⁺ + SCN⁻ ⇌ [Fe(SCN)]²⁺ (blood red). Fe²⁺ does not react until oxidised.
Can I do the fe³⁺ thiocyanate test experiment online for free?
Yes. Faradium sets up the bench for you and ticks off each step as you complete it. It runs in any browser on a phone, tablet or laptop with no sign-up and no chemicals.
Chemistry in this experiment
Elements involved: Carbon (C), Nitrogen (N), Sulfur (S), Iron (Fe).
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