Question

Help!

Iron is a transition metal and, as such, can form two types of "oxide" compounds, FeO and Fe₂O₃.


(A) What's different about the iron cations in each compound?


(B) How does that difference affect the final compound formulas?

Answer 1

In FeO iron atom exist as Fe+ cation but in Fe2O3 iron atom exist as Fe3+ cation.

Step-by-step explanation:

Feo=Fe+ + O-

Fe2O3 =2Fe3+ + 3O2-

The difference in the charge of iron cation deeply affect the compound formulas because in FeO the Fe cation has 1 unit positive charge where in Fe2O3 the Fe cation has 3 units positive charge.

That"s why these two chemical compounds made up of similar atoms differ in their chemical formulas.