Need explanation of a reaction
Let us mix a solution of FeCl3 in H2O (with probable presence of HCl) with NH4OH. I did this reaction, and it gave a totally unexpected result, which you can see at the image.
The resulting precipitate behaved like mold, meaning it refused to break up into small particles. When I stirred it, a thick jelly formed instead of a solution. I added more ammonium hydroxide and poured it into a test tube to settle. A very dark precipitate formed, darker than the usual Fe2O3 * nH2O, and the solution became clear. But what exactly happened? Is this normal, or does it mean there were impurities in my ferric chloride?
I asked AIs, but probably their output is false, since AIs never admit they don't know. It's possible, though highly unlikely, that I not enough washed this vessel from previous experiment (where I tried to transform FeCl3 in FeCl2 using HCl + Na2SO3).