Halogen reactions with iron wool

A macro photograph of a piece of iron wool

Source: © Shutterstock

Illustrate an exothermic redox reaction by heating iron wool with chlorine, bromine and iodine with this demonstration. Includes kit list and safety instructions.

In this teacher demonstration, students observe what happens when iron wool is heated in the presence of chlorine gas and the vapours of bromine and iodine. Students can watch the iron wool begin to glow as the expected exothermic redox reactions take place, forming iron(III) halides (FeX3) as coloured solids.

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