Ferric

In chemistry, Ferric refers to the element iron in its +3 oxidation state. Ferric chloride is an alternative name for iron(III) chloride (FeCl₃). The adjective ferrous is used instead for iron(II) salts, containing the cation Fe²⁺. The word ferric is derived from the Latin word ferrum, meaning "iron".

Although often abbreviated as Fe³⁺, that naked ion does not exist except under extreme conditions. Iron(III) centres are found in many compounds and coordination complexes, where Fe(III) is bonded to several ligands. A molecular ferric complex is the anion ferrioxalate, [Fe(C₂O₄)₃]³⁻, with three bidentate oxalate ions surrounding the Fe core. Relative to lower oxidation states, ferric is less common in organoiron chemistry, but the ferrocenium cation [Fe(C₂H₅)₂]⁺ is well known.