Hydrous ferric oxide was synthesised under alkaline conditions, aged in distilled water and calcined. Characterisation was attempted through x-ray, differential thermal analysis, thermogravimetric and infrared analyses. Electrical conductivity was measured and chemical reactivity towards hydrazine investigated. It was found that ageing as well as calcination facilitated crystallisation toa-Fe2O3 and thereby decrease the reactivity, which in turn appears to be strongly influenced by the three types of water,viz. absorbed, bound and crystallisation.
