Iron can form two different ionic compounds with oxygen-- Fe2O3 and FeO.I don‘t understand how this happens!Thanks!
it forms more than two, it can also make Fe3O4, and also oxyhydroxides like FeO(OH) and Fe(OH)3. The reason is that iron has three commonly possible oxidation statesiron with zero charge (iron metal), iron with a 2+ charge (as in FeO) and iron with a 3+ charge, as in Fe2O3. In the right chemical conditions, some of the iron can be in the 2+ state, and other iron in the 3+ state, which is how you get Fe3O4. iron can be stable at either 2+ of 3+, depending upon how oxidizing the system is. When there is a lot of stuff that wants electrons, like oxygen, iron is mostly 3+. when there is only stuff that wants electrons about the same as iron, it is in the 2+ state. When there is not much of anything competing for electrons, iron forms iron metal (Fe)
it forms more than two, it can also make Fe3O4, and also oxyhydroxides like FeO(OH) and Fe(OH)3. The reason is that iron has three commonly possible oxidation statesiron with zero charge (iron metal), iron with a 2+ charge (as in FeO) and iron with a 3+ charge, as in Fe2O3. In the right chemical conditions, some of the iron can be in the 2+ state, and other iron in the 3+ state, which is how you get Fe3O4. iron can be stable at either 2+ of 3+, depending upon how oxidizing the system is. When there is a lot of stuff that wants electrons, like oxygen, iron is mostly 3+. when there is only stuff that wants electrons about the same as iron, it is in the 2+ state. When there is not much of anything competing for electrons, iron forms iron metal (Fe)
