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Ferric
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<p>In <a href="/facts/Chemistry/SrNqkGVm">chemistry</a>, iron(III) or <i>ferric</i> refers to the <a href="/facts/Chemical_element/0jducgWD">element</a> <a href="/facts/Iron/QK1JYy8E">iron</a> in its +3 <a href="/facts/Oxidation_number/W53W6s6V">oxidation state</a>. <i>Ferric chloride</i> is an alternative name for <a href="/facts/Iron(III)_chloride/a51pulq1">iron(III) chloride</a> (FeCl3). The adjective <i><a href="/facts/Ferrous/AGImjWqq">ferrous</a></i> is used instead for <a href="/facts/Iron(II)/TCxvdjfW">iron(II)</a> salts, containing the cation Fe2+. The word <i>ferric</i> is derived from the <a href="/facts/Latin/pM3Kge85">Latin</a> word <i>ferrum</i>, meaning "iron". </p><p>Although often abbreviated as Fe3+, that naked ion does not exist except under extreme conditions. Iron(III) centres are found in many compounds and <a href="/facts/Coordination_complex/1tCyeQUm">coordination complexes</a>, where Fe(III) is bonded to several <a href="/facts/Ligand/6etB3qeW">ligands</a>. A molecular ferric complex is the <a href="/facts/Anion/wrbwhF3z">anion</a> <a href="/facts/Ferrioxalate/sLg3Y0yn">ferrioxalate</a>, [Fe(C2O4)3]3−, with three <a href="/facts/Bidentate/hJF1lAJz">bidentate</a> <a href="/facts/Oxalate/u0Gdem0A">oxalate</a> ions surrounding the Fe core. Relative to lower oxidation states, ferric is less common in <a href="/facts/Organoiron_chemistry/d5IvuFwL">organoiron chemistry</a>, but the <a href="/facts/Ferrocenium/jKtu9Cp8">ferrocenium</a> cation [Fe(C2H5)2]+ is well known. </p>