Account for the following:

Methylamine in water reacts with ferric chloride to precipitate hydrated ferric oxide.


The structure of methylamine is CH3NH2


Methylamine is more basic than water due to the presence of CH3 (electron releasing group) and +I effect (pushing electrons). Being more basic, methylamine accepts a proton from water liberating OH- ions.



Dissociation of ferric chloride in water to give Fe3+ and Cl-


FeCl3 Fe3+ + 3Cl-


Now, the liberated OH- ions combine with Fe3+ ions present in H2O to form brown precipitate of hydrated ferric oxide.



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