Iron is one of the many minerals required by the human body. It is used in the manufacture of the oxygen-carrying proteins haemoglobin and myoglobin. A deficiency of iron in the body can leave a person feeling tired and listless, and can lead to a disorder called anemia. Many of the foods we eat contain small quantities of iron.
In this analysis the iron present in an iron tablet (dietary supplement) or a sample of food is extracted to form a solution containing Fe3+ (ferric) ions. To make the presence of these ions in solution visible, thiocyanate ions (SCN−) are added. These react with the Fe3+ ions to form a blood-red coloured complex