ferric chloride?

[deadastronaut]

quick question for chemical heads..

ive been using the ferric chloride balls/crystals for ages and am fine with it, ...however it is becoming more expensiive.

i found this guy on ebay knocking out 1kg of it , but is it the same?...the iron III is throwing me off...ive asked the guy but his reply in english is way off and doesn't quite make sense

is it the same?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1kg-Ferric-Chloride-PCB-etchant-copper-etchant-/220818372953?_trksid=p2045573.m2042&_trkparms=aid%3D111000%26algo%3DREC.CURRENT%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D27%26meid%3D4523904007120746600%26pid%3D100033%26prg%3D1011%26rk%3D1%26sd%3D220818372953%26


cheers.

[crane]

What do you mean "the iron III is throwing me off"?  It is the oxidation state of iron (+3) resulting in the correct chemical formula - FeCl3 (since Cl is -1).
If you find FeCl3 too expensive you can use HCl + hydrogen peroxide. Much cheaper and more environment friendly.

[deadastronaut]

yeah well not being a chemist i thought i'd ask...

ive never seen it written as that on the other packets ive used thats all....and the guys answer was just plain weird!!!...

so its the same then. thanks for your abrupt headmaster-ish reply...

[Mike Burgundy]

As Crane said, it's the stuff. The naming iron-III-choride is a bit vague (it would suggest Fe3CL), but it's because FeCl3 is pronounced Iron-Tri-Chloride, I guess. Compare Di-Hydrogen Oxide.
Is it me or are they phasing production of this stuff out as well? It's suddenly a lot more difficult to get  (unless you're buying big).

[deadastronaut]

cheers mike, not sure on phasing out, but its rapidly gone up in price recently. i used to get 2x250g for around £7.00, now its more like £16.00

must be popular i guess!..

[Seljer]

Heres a nice video explaining the reactions used when etching http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4tWEse2rDI (the fellow also has a good video on recycling etchants)

[crane]

thanks for your abrupt headmaster-ish reply...

Sorry for that. I just wanted to explain as good as possible and Egnlish is not my mother tongue (as you might have guessed). No offence mate

[deadastronaut]

^ no worries man,  your egnlish is better than mine...


@simon:  cool videos.