I need to find a solvent that will dissolve zinc but not dissolve Fe.

Dissolving Zn Nor Fe
#1
Posted 06 January 2017 - 12:39 PM
#2
Posted 08 January 2017 - 11:46 AM
I need to find a solvent that will dissolve zinc but not dissolve Fe.
Tricky: they are quite close in the electrochemical series. I'd have thought since Zn/Zn 2+ has a reduction potential of -0.76V while Fe/Fe 2+ has one of -0.44V then in theory FeCl2 solution might dissolve Zn and precipitate Fe metal. But I've no idea of this works in practice. FeCl3 might work better (reduction pot +0.77V, so bigger difference from Zn) but that might risk attacking Fe metal as well and turning it all to Fe 2+ .
What are you actually trying to do, if may ask?
Edited by exchemist, 09 January 2017 - 08:16 AM.