Doug+Cavlert's+Ferro-Fluid+Chemistry+ISU+3

=Chemistry Behind the Reactions= The first part of the reaction is creating the magnetite solution.

3 FeCl3 + 2 O2 ---> Fe3O4 + 9 Cl

This Fe3O4 is the magnetite. We add ammonia NH3 to the solution in order to precipitate the the magnetite out of the solution. We then add oleic acid to the solution. this begins to bond with the magnetite solution making long carbon chains.

2 C18H34O2 + 2 Fe3O4 ---> 2 Fe3O6C18H3 3 + H2



This new molecule allows the fluid aspects of oil to be combined with the magnetic aspects of a metal.

Page 1 Page 2 Page 4