BICHROMATE PROCESS FOR THE DETERMINATION OF IRON
Ferrous salts may be promptly and completely oxidized to ferric salts, even in cold solution, by the addition of potassium bichromate, provided sufficient acid is present to hold in solution the ferric and chromic compounds which are formed.
The acid may be either hydrochloric or sulphuric, but the former is usually preferred, since it is by far the best solvent for iron and its compounds. The reaction in the presence of hydrochloric acid is as follows:
6FeCl_{2} + K_{2}Cr_{2}O_{7} + 14HCl —> 6FeCl_{3} + 2CrCl_{3} + 2KCl + 7H_{2}O.