Determination of metallic iron, iron(II) oxide, and iron(III) oxide in a mixture

A procedure is described for the estimation of metallic iron, ferrous oxide, and ferric oxide when present together. The sample is treated with bromine dissolved in ethanol, and filtered. Iron in the filtrate is titrated iodometrically, and corresponds to the metallic iron present in the mixture. The oxide residue is dissolved in hydrochloric acid under a carbon dioxide atmosphere. The iron(II) formed, equivalent to FeO present, is titrated with a standard vanadate solution, and the total iron(III) (FeO + Fe₂O₃) in the titrated solution is then estimated iodometrically.