Ferric Chloride Hexahydrate is generally immediately available in most volumes. High purity, submicron and nanopowder forms may be considered.
The ferric chloride test is used to determine the presence of phenols in a given sample or compound (for instance natural phenols in a plant extract). Enols, hydroxamic acids, oximes, and sulfinic acids give positive results as well.
Ferric Chloride is used in photoengraving, photography, the manufacture of pigments and ink, the chlorination of silver and copper ores, and as a mordant in dyeing and printing textiles. It is also utilized in the synthesis of organic compounds. FeCl3 is used in the Mayer's tannic acid/ferric chloride method for staining tissue and their observation by light microscopy. Studies of iron uptake and of apoptosis in cultured cells have utilized FeCl3 as an iron source.