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Diss Factsheets

Physical & Chemical properties

Oxidising properties

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Description of key information

Assessed regarding the chemical nature, not sufficient for classification. 

Key value for chemical safety assessment

Oxidising properties:
no

Additional information

Testing for this endpoint has been waived in accordance with column 2 restrictions. Ferric salts have no relevant oxidizing properties.

Justification for read-across

The anions present in the category members are generally known to be stable over a large range of conditions while the iron kation can switch between oxidation states. Thus the evaluation can be reduced to the iron. However the iron(II) must be assessed separately from iron(III), read-across between iron salts of the same oxidation state is supported as they share the same redox potential.

Available data

Ferric chloride (FeCl3) is generally a known to be mild oxidising agent (O'Neil et al 2006), not sufficient for classification. The oxidation potential of the ferric ion can be represented by the equilibrium formula for:

Fe(2+) = Fe(3+) + e-

with the standardized redox potential Eo = 0.771 + 0.0591 ∙ Log [Fe3+] / [Fe2+]

(Pourbaix & Zoubov 1966).

In conclusion the submission item is an inorganic metal salt not featuring groups related with relevant oxidizing properties. Ferric salts can be reduced and thus be a mild, not classifiable oxidizing agent.

  • O'Neil MJ, Heckelman PE, Koch CB, Roman KJ eds (2006). The Merck Index. An encyclopedia of Chemicals, Drugs, and Biologicals. 14th edn. ISBN: 978-0 -911910-00-1. Whitehouse Station, NJ, U.S.A. Merck and Co. 1740 p.
  • Pourbaix N, Zoubov N (1966). Section 12.1: Iron (pp. 307-21). In: Pourbaix M ed. Atlas of Electrochemical Equilibria in Aqueous Solution. Pergamon Press.

Justification for classification or non-classification

The following statements base on DSD, the Commission Directive 2001/59/EC (28th ATP of Council Directive 67/548/EEC), and CLP (5th ATP of Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council) as implementation of UN-GHS in the EU:

The submission item is considered non-oxidizing on the basis of its chemical nature and composition. While ferrous (Fe+2) salts are generally reducing rather than oxidizing agents, the ferric (Fe+3) kation is however a mild oxidising agent not sufficient for classification. This is confirmed by a guideline study for the ferric sulphate, which was found non-oxidizing according to the applicable standards.