Iron carbonyl is a chemical compound with the molecular formula Fe(CO)5. The spelling of "iron carbonyl" in IPA phonetic transcription is /ˈaɪərn kɑrˈboʊnəl/. The word "iron" is pronounced as /ˈaɪərn/ and "carbonyl" as /kɑrˈboʊnəl/. The IPA transcription helps to accurately represent the pronunciation of each syllable in the word. Iron carbonyl has a high boiling point and is used in organic synthesis and as a catalyst in various chemical reactions.
Iron carbonyl is a compound that consists of iron and carbon monoxide molecules bonded together. It can refer specifically to two main isomers: iron pentacarbonyl and iron hexacarbonyl.
Iron pentacarbonyl, with the chemical formula Fe(CO)5, is a yellow volatile solid. It is produced by the reaction between finely divided iron and carbon monoxide gas, often under high pressure. It is a highly toxic substance that has a strong, pungent odor. Iron pentacarbonyl is widely used for the production of pure iron by the process of carbonylation. It also serves as an intermediate for various industrial applications such as the synthesis of organic compounds.
Iron hexacarbonyl, with the chemical formula Fe2(CO)9, is a reddish-brown crystalline solid. It is formed by the reaction between finely divided iron and carbon monoxide at room temperature and low pressure. Iron hexacarbonyl is a stable compound that is less toxic than iron pentacarbonyl. It is mainly used as a precursor for the preparation of other iron compounds and as a catalyst in various chemical reactions.
Both iron pentacarbonyl and iron hexacarbonyl are coordination complexes where carbon monoxide acts as a ligand to the iron atom, forming covalent bonds. These compounds are of significant interest due to their unique structures and diverse applications in organic synthesis, catalysis, and materials science. However, given their toxic nature, proper handling and safety precautions should be followed when working with iron carbonyl compounds.
The word "iron carbonyl" is derived from the combination of two separate terms: "iron" and "carbonyl".
1. Iron: The term "iron" can be traced back to the Old English word "īren" or "īsen". It is related to the Proto-Germanic word "īsarną" and further back to the Proto-Indo-European word "eisarnom". The word has remained relatively unchanged in most Germanic languages, such as "Eisen" in German and "ijzer" in Dutch.
2. Carbonyl: The term "carbonyl" is derived from the combination of "carbon" and "heyl", an obsolete word derived from "hel" meaning "light" or "brightness" in Middle English. The term "carbon" itself is derived from the Latin word "carbo", meaning "charcoal" or "ember".