iron(II) sulfate

Also known as iron sulfate (1:1), iron(II) sulfate (1:1), ferrous sulfate (anhydrous), ferrous sulfate, ferrous sulfate (anh.), iron(2+) sulfate (anh.), FeSO4, Fe(II)SO4

chemical compound

Chemical data

Formula: FeO4S
Molecular weight: 151.91 g/mol
IUPAC name: iron(2+) sulfate
SMILES: [O-]S(=O)(=O)[O-].[Fe+2]
InChIKey: BAUYGSIQEAFULO-UHFFFAOYSA-L
Polar surface area: 88.6 Å²
H-bond donors: 0
H-bond acceptors: 4
Formal charge: 0

via PubChem

Article

Iron(II) sulfate or ferrous sulfate (British English: sulphate instead of sulfate) denotes a range of salts with the formula FeSO4·xH2O. These compounds exist most commonly as the heptahydrate (x = 7), but several values for x are known. The hydrated form is used medically to treat or prevent iron deficiency, and also for industrial applications. Known since ancient times as copperas and as green vitriol (vitriol is an archaic name for hydrated sulfate minerals), the blue-green heptahydrate (hydrate with 7 molecules of water) is the most common form of this material. All the iron(II) sulfates dissolve in water to give the same aquo complex [Fe(H2O)6], which has octahedral molecular geometry and is paramagnetic. The name copperas dates from times when the copper(II) sulfate was known as blue copperas, and perhaps in analogy, iron(II) and zinc sulfate were known respectively as green and white copperas.

It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines. In 2023, it was the 89th most commonly prescribed medication in the United States, with more than 7 million prescriptions.