Final answer:
The chemical formula of iron(III) oxide is Fe₂O₃, which reflects the +3 oxidation state of iron and the -2 state of oxygen in the compound.
Step-by-step explanation:
The chemical formula of iron(III) oxide is Fe₂O₃. This compound is an ionic compound where iron has a +3 oxidation state, indicated by the Roman numeral III. To understand the formation of this compound, we should consider the oxidation states of iron and oxygen. Iron has multiple oxidation states, but when it forms iron(III) oxide, it loses three electrons to achieve a +3 charge, denoted as Fe³⁺, while each oxygen atom gains two electrons to achieve a -2 charge, indicated as O²⁻.
When combining to form iron(III) oxide, we need two Fe³⁺ ions to balance with three O²⁻ ions, thus giving us a neutral compound. Therefore, the empirical formula is Fe₂O₃ with the subscripts indicating the mole ratio of the elements in the compound. This compound is also commonly known as hematite, which is one of the main ores of iron.