When should ferrous sulfate be taken? What is ferrous sulphate used for in pregnancy? Is Ferrous sulfate a medicine used to treat and prevent iron deficiency anaemia

FeSO₄

Iron(II) sulfate (British English: iron(II) sulphate) or ferrous sulfate denotes a range of salts with the formula FeSO4·xH2O. These compounds exist most commonly as the heptahydrate (x = 7) but several values for x are known. The hydrated form is used medically to treat iron deficiency, and also for industrial applications. Known since ancient times as copperas and as green vitriol (vitriol is an archaic name for sulfate), the blue-green heptahydrate (hydrate with 7 molecules of water) is the most common form of this material. All the iron(II) sulfates dissolve in water to give the same aquo complex [Fe(H2O)6]2+, which has octahedral molecular geometry and is paramagnetic. The name copperas dates from times when the copper(II) sulfate was known as blue copperas, and perhaps in analogy, iron(II) and zinc sulfate were known respectively as green and white copperas.

More about Ferrous sulfate can be found in Wikipedia

Uses

Industrially, ferrous sulfate is mainly used as a precursor to other iron compounds. It is a reducing agent, and as such is useful for the reduction of chromate in cement to less toxic Cr(III) compounds.

Medical use

Iron supplements, also known as iron salts and iron pills, are a number of iron formulations used to treat and prevent iron deficiency including iron deficiency anemia. For prevention, they are only recommended for those with poor absorption, heavy menstrual periods, pregnancy, hemodialysis, or a diet low in iron. Prevention may also be used in low birth weight babies. They are taken by mouth, injection into a vein, or injection into a muscle. While benefits may be seen in days, up to two months may be required until iron levels return to normal.

Plant growth

Iron(II) sulfate is sold as ferrous sulfate, a soil amendment for lowering the pH of a high alkaline soil so that plants can access the soil's nutrients.

Pigment and craft

Ferrous sulfate can be used to stain concrete and some limestones and sandstones a yellowish rust color. Woodworkers use ferrous sulfate solutions to color maple wood a silvery hue. Green vitriol is also a useful reagent in the identification of mushrooms.

Formula: FeSO₄·7H₂O

Molecular Weight: 278.02 g/mol
Form: Blue-green crystals
CAS Number: 7782-63-0
Density: 1.895 g/cm³
Synonyms: Iron(II) sulphate; Ferrous sulfate, Green vitriol, Iron vitriol, Copperas, Melanterite, Szomolnokite, ferrous salt, Sulfuric acid, iron(2+) salt (1:1), Combiron, Odophos, Kesuka, Sal chalybis, Green Salts, Quickfloc (salt), Slow Fe, Ferrosulfat [German]