Question

What happens to iron when iron oxide becomes elemental iron?

Answer 1

Iron gets reduced from a +3 oxidation state to 0

Step-by-step explanation:

The decomposition of iron oxide to elemental can be represented by the following equation:

`2Fe_(2) O_(3) (s)------ 4Fe(s) + 3O_(2) (g)`

In iron oxide (Fe2O3), the oxidation state of iron is +3 while that of oxygen is -2. Therefore, the above reaction is a redox (reduction oxidation reaction).

Here, iron in iron oxide gains 3 electrons and gets reduced from Fe3+ to Fe(0). Whereas, the oxygen loses 2 electrons and gets reduced from O2- to O(0).

The half reactions can be represented as:

Reduction:

`Fe^(3+) + 3e- ------- Fe`

Oxidation:

`O^(2-) -------O + 2e-`

Answer 2

The appropriate response is Reduction. It is a chemical reaction that includes the picking up of electrons. It alludes to the side that acknowledges electrons. At the point when iron responds with oxygen, it frames a concoction called rust. In that case, the iron is oxidized and the oxygen is lessened.