Iron(III) nitrate is deliquescent, and it is commonly found as the nonahydrate Fe(NO3)3·9H2O, which forms colourless to pale violet crystals.
When this solution is heated to near boiling, nitric acid evaporates and a solid precipitate of iron(III) oxide Fe2O3 appears.
[7] Another method for producing iron oxides from this nitrate salt involves neutralizing its aqueous solutions.
[8] The compound can be prepared by treating iron metal powder with nitric acid, as summarized by the following idealized equation:[9] Ferric nitrate has no large scale applications.
For example, ferric nitrate on Montmorillonite—a reagent called Clayfen—has been employed for the oxidation of alcohols to aldehydes and thiols to disulfides.