Final answer:
The statement is false; the Fe³⁺ ion is formed when iron loses three electrons, resulting in an ion with a +3 charge.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that there were 3 electrons gained to form the ion Fe³⁺ is false. Iron (Fe) becomes a Fe³⁺ ion through the loss of electrons, not the gain. To form an Fe³⁺ ion, iron loses two electrons from its 4s subshell and one electron from the 3d subshell, leaving an electronic configuration of 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 3d⁵.
In the reaction 4 Fe + 3 O₂ → 2 Fe₂O₃, each Fe atom loses three electrons, which are gained by oxygen atoms to form O²⁻ ions. This is an oxidation process for Fe, and each Fe atom has an oxidation number of +3. Therefore, Fe³⁺ forms by losing electrons, not by gaining them.