ferrous sulphate
C1/C2Technical, Scientific, Medical
Definition
Meaning
A green crystalline compound of iron and sulfur (chemical formula FeSO₄), used medically to treat iron-deficiency anaemia.
An inorganic salt with various industrial applications, including water treatment, ink manufacture, and as a fertilizer additive.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a technical/chemical term. In medical contexts, it refers specifically to the therapeutic form. Its common name in some contexts is 'green vitriol' or 'copperas' (historical).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
British English primarily uses 'ferrous sulphate' with 'sulphate' spelled with 'ph'. American English uses 'ferrous sulfate' with 'sulfate' spelled with 'f'. The UK also recognizes 'iron(II) sulfate' as a systematic name.
Connotations
No difference in connotation, purely orthographic/phonetic.
Frequency
Equally common within their respective technical domains. The US spelling 'sulfate' is increasingly used in international scientific literature.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Patient] was prescribed ferrous sulphate for [Condition].[Substance] reacts with ferrous sulphate to form [Product].The [Solution] contains X% ferrous sulphate.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None directly associated.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
In pharmaceutical manufacturing or agricultural supply; e.g., 'We supply bulk ferrous sulphate for fertilizer blends.'
Academic
In chemistry, pharmacology, or environmental science papers; e.g., 'The oxidation state of iron in ferrous sulphate is +2.'
Everyday
Primarily in healthcare discussions; e.g., 'The doctor put me on ferrous sulphate for low iron.'
Technical
In laboratory procedures, water treatment specifications, or industrial chemical formulations.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The mixture was sulphated to produce ferrous sulphate.
adjective
British English
- The ferrous-sulphate solution turned brown upon exposure.
American English
- The ferrous-sulfate solution precipitated a solid.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Ferrous sulphate is a medicine for anaemia.
- The chemical is blue-green.
- Patients taking ferrous sulphate should be aware it can cause constipation.
- Ferrous sulphate reacts with barium chloride to form a white precipitate.
- The bioavailability of the iron in ferrous sulphate supplements is relatively high compared to other salts.
- Industrial-grade ferrous sulphate is a key reductant in water treatment processes.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: FERROus = IRON (from Latin 'ferrum'), SULPHATE = contains sulfur. So, 'iron-sulfur compound'.
Conceptual Metaphor
Often conceptualised as a 'building block' or 'fuel' for blood production.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Direct translation as 'сернокислое железо' is chemically accurate but less common; 'сульфат железа(II)' is the standard term.
- Avoid confusing with 'ферритин' (ferritin, a protein).
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling 'ferrous' as 'ferus' or 'feros'.
- Confusing 'ferrous' (Fe²⁺) with 'ferric' (Fe³⁺).
- Incorrectly capitalising as a proper noun.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary medical use of ferrous sulphate?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Ferrous sulphate is a chemical compound containing iron in a specific, bioavailable form. Elemental iron is not consumed in this pure form as a supplement.
It can cause temporary, harmless dark staining if the liquid supplement comes into direct contact with teeth, due to a chemical reaction with dental plaque.
Both are iron salts used to treat anaemia, but they contain different percentages of elemental iron and may have slightly different side-effect profiles or costs.
It is generally better absorbed on an empty stomach, but it can cause gastrointestinal upset. Taking it with a small amount of food is often recommended to minimise side effects, though this may reduce absorption slightly.