  Fe-gluconate was studied by means of the M\"ossbauer spectroscopy in the
temperature interval of 80-305K. The measured spectra were analyzed in terms of
two subspectra and, alternatively, two distributions of the quadrupole
splitting. The major component (ca.85%) was identified as due to high-spin Fe2+
ions while the identification of the minor component (ca.15%) was not unique:
some characteristics are in favour of the high-spin Fe3+ state while other ones
are consistent with the low-spin Fe2+ state. Values of the Debye temperature
were determined for both phases from a temperature dependence of the center
shift as well as from that of the spectral area. The force constant for the
high-spin ferrous atoms was evaluated to be equal to 44 N/m (243 cm-1).

Materials Science;Other Condensed Matter